LABOR MP Don Brown has asked the electoral commission to investigate the use of a billboard by LNP MP Andrew Laming, arguing that he may have broached developer political donation laws.
Mr Brown said in a letter to Queensland Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen that he believed a donation or gift had been made by property developer Harridan to the Liberal National Party and their federal election candidate Mr Laming.
However Mr Laming said the use of the billboard was not a donation and was hired at a commercial rate.
"It is not a gift," Mr Laming said.
Mr Brown said he understood the billboard at Thornlands that had been covered with promotional material for Mr Laming was owned by the developer for private use.
Mr Brown said that he had lodged the complaint in light of Queensland's law banning political donations from property developers having been ruled valid by the High Court last month.
"Now that the High Court have handed down their decision it is clear that developers cannot donate or give gifts to Queensland political parties or their candidate, an offence that carries a fine of $52,220 or two years in prison," Mr Brown said.
"This situation stinks to high hell.
"We have a billboard owned by a developer for private use, that can't be hired by the public suddenly change to an LNP and Andrew Laming billboard."
Mr Brown said that he understood changes to private billboards had to be registered with council and to his knowledge that had not occurred.
"I believe avoiding this registration with Redland City Council is evidence of failing to declare the gift or donation of the billboard," Mr Brown wrote to Mr Vidgen.
Mr Laming said: "Nor did he for Labor party billboards in 2017. They're in exactly the same boat. They did exactly the same thing.
"Within stone throwing distance, Don Brown's colleague (MP Kim Richards) did exactly the same thing under the same rules and the only difference is that the LNP don't complain they just get on with winning elections."
Mr Laming challenged Mr Brown to produce paperwork regarding council registration for 2017 Labor billboards.
"There's a long-standing arrangement where political signs in election periods are tolerated by Redland City Council," Mr Laming said.
Mr Brown asked the commission to investigate whether the LNP and Mr Laming had paid for the billboard.
"Mr Laming and LNP need to come clean and give full disclosure of all material related to this developer billboard and fully co-operate with the ECQ."
Mr Laming said that he would have other billboards in the Redlands and would be able to demonstrate to the Australian Electoral Commission that they were obtained at a commercial rate.
A Redland City Council spokesperson said signage across the Redlands must be compliant with local law and there were consequences for non-compliance.
"Council will act on election signage that is not compliant," the spokesperson said.
Harridan have been asked to comment.
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