Government moves to ban developer donations

The Queensland Government has introduced the Local Government Electoral (Implementing Belcarra) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 into Parliament.

The major effect of the Bill will be to ban political donations from property developers to state and local government candidates.

Although the Bill will not be voted on until the parliamentary committee investigation into the Bill is tabled on 27 November 2017, the reforms will be applied retrospectively from 12 October 2017.

As such, the introduction of this Bill places an immediate de facto ban on political donations from property developers.

The move is in response to the release of the Crime and Corruption Commission’s report on Operation Belcarra, which investigated integrity and corruption risk in local government. Amongst the report’s 31 recommendations was a ban on all developer donations to local government candidates based on ‘perception concerns’.

The definition of a property developer within the legislation in the same broad definition used in similar NSW legislation. This definition also precludes the spouses of directors or officers of a development entity from donating.

In responding to the move, the Property Council has stressed the importance of equality before the law, regardless of occupation or industry.

The Property Council will continue to advocate on behalf of the industry on this issue and will be actively engaged in the committee consultation process.