Qld to cap political donations

Queensland election campaigns will be transformed by new laws capping political
donations and likely limits on campaign expenditure by parties and the unions.
In the biggest overhaul of government integrity measures in two decades, Premier
Anna Bligh announced she would cap political donations at $1,000 if the federal
government, which is also considering the issue, had failed to do so by July 2010.
It was one of a range of reforms to be rolled out in two stages over the next 12
months, in response to a government green paper released in August, which received
more than 200 submissions.
The review followed scathing criticism of the Bligh regime from corruption fighter
Tony Fitzgerald, the jailing of former Labor minister Gordon Nuttall for receiving
corrupt payments and a troubling report on police misconduct.
Then came a flurry of reports about former Labor identities who had become
lobbyists, calling into question their influence over government decisions.
Announcing the reforms in state parliament, Ms Bligh said they would "shine the
beacon of scrutiny" on more areas of government, including ministers, MPs, staffers,
public servants and statutory officers.
She later told reporters they would see Queensland set an example for government
accountability both nationally and internationally, and she expected other states to
follow.
"These reforms, in my view, will transform the political process in Queensland,
transform the relationship between the community, business and political parties,
transform election campaigning," Ms Bligh said.
"These are major reforms and they will change the face of our state."
To accompany the cap on political donations, Ms Bligh said, the government would
consider capping expenditure on election campaigns and "parallel campaigns" run by
unions.
Also to be examined was the likely need to increase public funding of election
campaigns.
Ms Bligh said she would prefer the reforms to be a national effort led by the
federal government, but Queensland would go it alone if necessary.
Among the other measures is a ban on success fees for lobbyists, coming after a
controversy where Labor identities Terry Mackenroth and Con Sciacca shared a
$500,000 windfall for landing the lucrative Airport Link contract.
There are also measures to heighten the accountability of government employees,
which comes as the CMC on Monday announced a public inquiry into rorts allegations
involving former ministerial adviser Simon Tutt.
Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek labelled the government's response as
"knee-jerk" and "selective".
"It does not deal with ... all the issues that were raised by people who made
submissions," Mr Langbroek told reporters.
"It's been a selective choice of things that once again will be there to benefit the
Labor Party, as opposed to fixing the system overall."
He said the LNP would be disadvantaged by the cap on donations as Labor's income
from its investment arm, Labor Holdings, as well as union support, meant it would
not be a level playing field.
Mr Langbroek said a cap on campaign spending but no limits on what parties could
raise would make things even.
Also announced was a parliamentary inquiry into the state's unicameral (one-house)
legislature, which could result in committees with non-government chairpeople and
greater powers.
Ms Bligh said it was a "once in a generation opportunity" to comprehensively reform
parliament.