Lines have been ‘blurred’ over lobbying, but no rules broken: Premier
The Queensland premier admits there’s “a blurring” in regulations around lobbying, but denies a cabinet minister broke those rules.
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni. (Photo: ABC)
Annastacia Palaszczuk says Energy Minister Mick de Brenni met with Palaszczuk’s former deputy chief of staff Denise Spinks, who resigned in September and had taken up a role with lobbying firm Anacta, on February 16.
Government-owned renewable energy firm CleanCo last month awarded Anacta a contract to provide training and advice on government and stakeholder engagement without undergoing a tender process.
Under government policy, political staffers cannot hold business meetings with state representatives on matters related to their former roles for 18 months after they depart.
Palaszczuk said she has been advised de Brenni’s meeting with Spinks “was not a business meeting”, telling journalists to put questions to the minister if they wanted more detail.
When asked if she thought it was appropriate for lobbyists to donate to the Labor Party, she said a parliamentary committee was probing former bureaucrat Kevin Yearbury’s recommendations to reform integrity.
“There were recommendations around lobbyists, and you know if we want to, if we need to tighten our rules, we will do so,” the premier told reporters on Thursday.
“There is a blurring at the moment of people who are either … working for in-house legal firms, for people who are (in) government relations.
“And these are issues that will be looked at in the context of that review, and the committee. The committee is looking at that at the moment and we, (the) government, looks forward to receiving that report.”
When asked if she had concerns about the current lobbying and integrity rules not being clear enough, Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland had the strongest laws in the country, and that she was prepared to “enhance those laws” if the committee recommended it.
Liberal National Party integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the reports regarding CleanCo and Labor lobbyists were “deeply concerning”.
She said there was no reason why a government-owned company would need to use taxpayers’ money to fund a government relations program run by lobbyists, who then donate huge amounts to the Labor Party.
“These dodgy practices have to end,” Simpson said.
“Taxpayers are the ones losing in this situation and this government just doesn’t seem to care anymore.
“Instead the Labor government is more focused on lining the pockets of its Labor mates.”
