Media | State News

LNP moves Bill to strengthen integrity measures

23rd October 2019

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has introduced new criminal laws to Parliament today in the wake of Jackie Trad’s integrity crisis and her failure to declare interests.

Ms Frecklington’s Private Members Bill delivers legislative reform based on the recommendations of the Crime and Corruption Commission’s assessment of the Labor Deputy Premier and Treasurer.

“The CCC said Jackie Trad didn’t break the law but what she did should be a criminal offence,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Almost seven weeks have passed since the recommendations were made and Annastacia Palaszczuk has failed to introduce laws to implement the CCC’s findings.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk is the weakest Premier in living memory and the integrity of her Labor Government is shattered.

“The LNP believes the corruption risks raised by the CCC in its assessment should be met with decisive action. That’s called leadership.

“The LNP’s bill creates new criminal offences for Cabinet Ministers to strengthen integrity measures in this state following the actions of Jackie Trad and the inaction of Annastacia Palaszczuk.”

The Private Members Bill implements recommendations 3 and 4 of the CCC’s assessment by:

  • creating a criminal offence for occasions when a member of Cabinet does not declare a conflict that does, or may conflict, with their ability to discharge their responsibilities. This will attract a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment (recommendation 3).
  • failing to make a declaration as outlined above could, in certain circumstances, be considered corrupt conduct, as defined in the Crime and Corruption Act 2001 (recommendation 3).
  • creating a criminal offence to apply to a member of Cabinet who fails to comply with the requirements of the Register of Members' Interests, and the Register of Members' Related Persons Interests by not informing the Clerk of Parliament of the particulars of an interest or the change to an interest within one month after the interest arises or the change happens. This will attract a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units (recommendation 4).
  • Recommendations 1, 2 and 5 relate to internal cabinet processes and for that reason aren’t included in the Private Member’s Bill.