EMERSON CONFIRMS LNP ACCEPTS CASH DUMPS

Media Release

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Newman Government has confirmed its new laws to water down scrutiny of political donations will keep Queenslanders in the dark on who is making massive donations to the LNP.
“On radio this morning the Transport Minister Scott Emerson admitted anyone could walk into an LNP electorate office and drop $10,000 in a brown paper bag on the counter and it will never have to be reported,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“This confirms exactly what the Labor Opposition has been saying about the arrogant Newman Government’s concerted attack on reforms made by the former government."
“The aim of the LNP’s new donation laws and the raising of the reporting threshold from $1,000 to $12,400 means Queenslanders will be kept in the dark about who is donating to the LNP and what influence they may be trying to buy."
“Queenslanders are right to question why the Newman LNP Government claimed it would be open, accountable, and transparent yet it arrogantly uses its massive majority to push through parliament new laws to hide an estimated 95% of political donations.”
Ms Palaszczuk said it seemed new information emerged almost daily about the willingness of the LNP to stack the system in its favour and to keep Queenslanders in the dark.
“They have used federal thresholds as an excuse to change the laws in Queensland despite the fact there was never any need to make the change, unless it was for the LNP’s own self-interest."
“The coming election is a chance for voters to send the Newman Government a message about its arrogance, secrecy and twisted priorities,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Labor Party would continue reporting donations in excess of $1,000 and in office would return the threshold for declaring donations to $1,000.
Extract from Radio 4BC interview 24 June 2014:
Jackie Trad: What we’ve seen through the Newman LNP government is all of those transparency levels reduced. So what you can do in Queensland now, because Campbell Newman has changed the laws, is you can make a donation to a politician or a political party up to the value of $12,399 and you don’t need to disclose or declare that, you don’t need to tell anyone. Anyone can go into Campbell Newman’s electorate office, hand $10,000 over the counter and nothing needs to be declared, nothing needs to be made public. And what that means is that our democracy is the worse off for it.
Patrick Condren: Scott?
Scott Emerson: Look these laws are now the same as federal laws…laws that are in place…
Condren: Does that make them right?
Emerson: You have to be able to declare these things, there are laws in place. But given that Jackie’s just had a little tirade there…I would ask the question again Patrick because we’ve…
Condren: I think…let me just ask you – is Jackie factually correct when she said that someone can go into an electorate office and hand over $10,000 in cash and it not have to be declared?
Emerson: Well, they’re the laws in…federal.
Condren: No, no - yes or no?

Emerson: Yes. They’re the laws that are there federally and in state.