LNP moves to allow political donations from developers

Property developers will once again be allowed to make political donations in Queensland elections after a suite of electoral law changes introduced by the Crisafulli LNP government.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the laws would also wind back voting rights for some prisoners, and expand the period that election material required authorisation.

During last year’s election campaign, David Crisafulli vowed to unpick the developer donation ban – long opposed by the LNP – and revert state elections to optional preferential voting.

The LNP has long argued refining the developer donation ban to only council elections was more consistent with the corruption watchdog calls which sparked the ban.Credit: Matt Dennien

While the latter does not feature in the government’s proposed laws, Frecklington told parliament on Thursday that the bill would make good on the LNP’s campaign promises.

She said removing the developer donation ban would revert what she described as an “electoral financial gerrymander from the former Labor government”.

“[It is] putting trade unions, property developers and anyone else who wants to donate on a level playing field,” she said.

Frecklington said refining the ban to only council elections was more consistent with the Crime and Corruption Commission report recommendation that sparked the ban.

While the ban was challenged by the LNP, the High Court ultimately ruled the laws were valid.

Other changes to be made by the bill will remove a Labor-introduced ability for prisoners with sentences of up to three years to vote in elections and referendums.

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“This is unacceptable, and an insult to the victims right across the state,” Frecklington said, revealing this would be wound back to only those serving sentences of under one year.

“Lawbreakers should not be choosing lawmakers,” she said.

The bill will also make changes to apply donation caps to financial years and allow bank loans to be used to fund election campaign efforts.

Political messaging and materials will need authorisations for a period of 12 months before a state election, with post office boxes able to be used instead of home or business addresses.

The electoral commission would also have oversight of internal party pre-selection ballots removed.

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