Logan mayor denies donors' influence

Logan mayor Luke Smith has denied large donations from property developers and businesses have influenced him in council.

Queensland's best funded mayor has denied reports that large donations from property developers and businesses influenced his decisions in council.

First-term Logan mayor Luke Smith's election win in March 2016 was financed by Logan Futures, a propriety limited company set up to channel donations and pay campaign expenses.

Dozens of property developers and businesses donates to the company to the sum of $377,883 including SKL Cables and Chin Hong Investment Corporation.

Fellow councillors Darren Power and Lisa Bradley alleged on ABC's 7.30 program on Monday that those two donors benefited from planning changes Mr Smith voted for.

After giving evidence at a public Crime and Corruption Commission hearing on Tuesday, Mr Smith said he had not seen the program but denied the accusations.

"I've done nothing wrong, I've complied with the law in every way possible," Mr Smith told reporters.

Mr Smith was the latest southeast Queensland councillor, and fourth mayor, to be called before the commission's 'Operation Belcarra' investigation into the 2016 local government elections.

The commission heard Mr Smith and his campaign team set up Logan Futures in April 2015 because they thought it was the most "transparent" way to handle donations.

"It was at my request the directors not only put in a third-party return but also disclose the books on who gave to the company during the process," he said.

The commission heard in April that a similar third-party donation system was used to bankroll the re-election of Moreton Bay mayor Allan Sutherland.

Mr Sutherland received more than $118,000 from the Moreton Futures Trust before the March 19 election.

The trust received donations from several property developers to the tune of $137,000 and went on to pay the campaign expenses of other candidates.


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Source: AAP



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