Queensland's local government boss says political parties and unions should be banned from donating to independent candidates.
Local Government Association chief executive Greg Hallam told a Crime and Corruption Commission hearing on Thursday that surveys of community attitudes showed voters wanted councils to remain non-partisan.
The last time a political party made a bid to sweep local government was the Liberal National Party's 2008 punt on the Gold Coast. They spent $1 million running candidates but lost in every seat.
Mr Hallam said political donations to independent candidates did not pass the "pub test".
"People are happy for you to be a member of a party - they'll live with that," Mr Hallam said.
"But they expect you to be fiercely independent when you step into council."
Mr Hallam said political parties and unions should not be able to donate to a non-endorsed candidate.
He also recommended real time disclosure and a ban on donations in the seven days before polling.
"The more transparent the process, the better (off) everyone is," he said.
The CCC is investigating funding and disclosure allegations from the March 2016 Gold Coast, Ipswich and Moreton Bay council elections.
Federal Liberal MP Stuart Robert testified last week he arranged for the Fadden Forum, a fundraising arm of the LNP, to donate $30,000 to his staffers Kristyn Boulton and Felicity Stevenson, who both ran as independents on the Gold Coast.
The money made up two-thirds of Ms Boulton's donations and was Ms Stevenson's only financial contribution other than $1000 from her grandmother.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate, who funded his re-election from his own pocket, testified on Wednesday that individual donations should be capped.
Mr Tate also suggested overall amounts be limited to $40,000 for divisional candidates and $100,00 for mayoral candidates.
Springfield Land Corporation deputy chairman and former BRW Rich-Lister Bob Sharpless took that one step further and called for a ban on all donations to stop the perception candidates were being influenced.
"My view is there should be some funded model at all levels of government where money is budgeted for," Mr Sharpless said.
"Then people such as property developers wouldn't be accused of doing things that supposedly are not in the public interest just because we try and help people who ask for our help."
But Mr Hallam said a total ban on all donations would be devastating for the mums and dads who ran for council elections and did not have the funds to prop up a campaign.
The public hearings will conclude on Friday.
Share
