Queensland Legalises Corruption, One Nation's Day-One Sickie & And a Gas Tax Betrayal + Lobbyist Update: Punters Friends of Parliament + Patreon Punters: First Access
Queensland Legalises Corruption, One Nation's Day-One Sickie & And a Gas Tax Betrayal
THE SCAM: THE SCAM: Queensland Premier David Crisafulli's LNP government has scrapped the ban on political donations from property developers — a ban introduced in 2018 on the advice of the state's own corruption watchdog. Within weeks, developers donated $170,000 including $50,000 for lunch with the deputy premier, who happens to oversee $7 billion in Olympic infrastructure contracts.
THE DAMAGE: Queensland taxpayers are the ones who'll wear it. When developers can buy access to the politicians handing out rezoning approvals and billion-dollar stadium builds, the community loses. The NSW corruption watchdog already racked up eight findings against developers and sent someone to jail — Queensland just decided that lesson wasn't worth learning.
THE OUTCOME: The LNP named their bill the 'Electoral Laws Restoring Electoral Fairness Amendment Bill' — a textbook move: legalise corruption, call it fairness. They also quietly quadrupled donation caps by switching from per-election-cycle to per-financial-year limits. Meanwhile, the media was distracted by new e-bike licence laws, burying the story under 'silly season' coverage.
ABC - Lifting ban on developer donations could increase corruption risk, Queensland watchdog says
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Lobbyist Update: Punters Friends of Parliament
We're officially establishing our very own Friends of Parliament Group.
WHAT IS IT? These are informal, bipartisan associations of MPs and Senators who come together across party lines to advocate for specific causes – in our case, our top 5 policies.
WHAT DO THEY DO? The groups aim to:
- Uniting politicians from different parties to build bipartisan support for key causes.
- Connect policymakers directly with subject matter experts, grassroots advocates, and industry leaders.
- Host briefings and events at Parliament House to educate politicians and staff on specific issues.
- Shape policy and legislation.
Our lobbyist Rachel has been drafting letters to recruit two co-convenors (basically co-hosts of the group) - we will let you know if they accept! Then we need to get another 20 MP's and Senators to join. Ideas on who we should ask? Reply to this email and let us know who and why!
Patreon Punters: First Access
Curious to know who we are asking to Found our Friends of Parliament Group? Join Patreon! Members are the first to know what we're up to, get direct input on ideas before anyone else, and vote on what we actually do.
When you sign up to our Patreon from just $5 AUD per month, you get:
- The ability to vote on key decisions
- Direct input into important projects
- Extended cuts and early access to videos
- 'Ask Me Anything' where Konrad answers your questions
- The satisfaction of keeping Konrad free to make the content we should care about
