Qld: Lobbyists barred from government positions

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2009
Qld: Lobbyists barred from government positions

(Eds: Takes in ke Fundraiser)



By Jessica Marszalek

BRISBANE, Aug 5 AAP - Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has defended lobbyist links in
her own office as she brought in new rules preventing lobbyists from holding government
positions.

Ms Bligh announced on Wednesday that all lobbyists would be banned from all government-appointed
boards and positions in another move to keep lobbyists at a distance from government.

"I have asked my director-general to conduct an exhaustive search of the membership
of all government boards and associated bodies to identify any individuals who are also
registered as lobbyists on the lobbyist register in this state," she told parliament.

"Anyone who receives a tick in both boxes will receive a letter from my director-general
advising them that they have one month to choose between these two roles."

Former politicians Steve Bredhauer, Terry Mackenroth, Darryl Briskey, Anthony Mooney,
Con Sciacca and Jim Soorley would be among those to receive the letters, she said.

"I have no reason to believe that any of these people have in any way acted inappropriately.

Indeed, I have observed them serving the people well in these roles," she said.

"But given the growing community concern about the relationship between lobbyists and
politics in Queensland, I believe that we must ensure they are kept at arm's length from
the decision-making process."

The opposition has used parliament to highlight the lobbying backgrounds of government
staff, pointing to two in the premier's office who formerly worked at lobbying company
Enhance Group.

Another staffer in the office of Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe worked as a
lobbyist for CPR Communications.

"Obviously we're pointing out that there's a murky connection between big business,
lobbyists and this government and this needs to be clarified," Opposition Leader John-Paul
Langbroek told reporters.

But Ms Bligh said there were no problems with the staffers' work histories.

"A number of my staff have had many different jobs before coming into my office," she
told reporters.

"Some of them have worked in the public sector and some of them have worked in lobbying
organisations."

The links did not affect them conducting their responsibilities with the utmost integrity,
she said.

Ms Bligh said a green paper would be released "very soon" to look at further changes
that might be made to increase government transparency. This follows bans on success fees
and on MPs and ministers attending political fundraisers with business.

Earlier Ms Bligh released a list of business leaders who have paid to dine with her
at Labor-organised functions.

The guest list of almost 90 businesses and individuals who paid to attend lunches and
dinners from July 2008 to June 2009 includes prominent developers Springfield Land Corporation,
Metroplex and Delfin Lend Lease.

Liberal National Party (LNP) president Bruce McIver promised to release a list of businesses
that paid to attend their state conference and a $20,000-a-head fundraising event.

"We will declare all donations to our party in the appropriate manner as per the law
as we always have done and I'll make sure that that standard continues," Mr McIver told
reporters.

The party was considering its position on fundraising dinners, he said.

AAP jmm/gd/mmr/mn

KEYWORD: LOBBYISTS WRAP (WITH FACTBOX AND PIX)

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