MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
SCOTT MORRISON AND LNP MUST COUGH UP DONATION MONEY NOW
Yesterday's High Court ruling means Scott Morrison and the Queensland LNP must immediately forfeit any property developer donations funnelled to federal party coffers in contravention of Queensland state law.
According to reports, the amount of illegal donations taken by the
Queensland LNP could be as much as $4 million. Any such money must be forfeited immediately.
We are in the middle of a federal election. Mr Morrison must guarantee today that no illegal donations will be spent on federal coalition advertising to spread the governments desperate scare campaigns.
In October 2018, the Palaszczuk government passed vital electoral transparency laws following recommendations from the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission. The laws banned property developer donations, in addition to the requirement for a $1000 donation disclosure threshold, and real-time disclosure.
Then Scott Morrison passed a Commonwealth law that tried to allow the LNP to go around Queensland state law, and allowing them to funnel the donations to the federal party.
After yesterdays ruling, that Commonwealth law has been invalidated and the Queensland LNP must now comply with Queensland state law. All property developer donations collected since October 2018 must now be forfeited to the Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Scott Morrison and the LNP can start by immediately disclosing all donations they have received above the $1000 limit. Then they should immediately forfeit any donations from property developers that were collected in contravention of the Queensland state law.
Scott Morrison and the LNP have been caught out trying to hide the donations they've received from the top end of town. We are in the middle of a federal election campaign. They must now immediately comply with this ruling made by the highest court of our land.
THURSDAY, 18 APRIL 2019
