AGRICULTURE minister Leanne Donaldson has stunned parliament, revealing the Labor Party paid her outstanding $8000 rates bill.
The junior Palaszczuk government minister who is on a $320,000 a year salary and oversees the annual $438 million budget of the agriculture and fisheries portfolios told parliament this afternoon that the Queensland branch of the ALP had paid the three year old debt.
She later revealed she had been driving an unregistered vehicle.
Senior media advisor Adrian Taylor issued a statement on behalf of Ms Donaldson at 3.51pm this afternoon which reads: “I once again apologise to Bundaberg Regional Council for not settling my outstanding rates account promptly. I apologise too to the people of Bundaberg. On this matter I have not met the expectations I set for myself as their representative. The debt with the Bundaberg Regional Council has been settled. Due to personal circumstance I was unable to immediately pay the bill myself. The Queensland branch of the ALP settled the account with the council yesterday and I will repay the ALP next week."
Opposition leader Tim Nichols said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has also misled the Queensland parliament.
“The Premier told the House earlier today that Ms Donaldson – not the ALP – had paid the outstanding debt,” Mr Nicholls said.
Mr Nicholls said there were a number of questions that now needed to answered including had her indebtedness to council at any stage been higher than $8000, and which other outstanding debts existed.
“Does premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have the courage to sack her,” he said.
Ms Donaldson is a member of Labor’s Left Faction controlled by deputy premier Jackie Trad. She is also a member of both the CFMEU and ETU unions.
It is unclear who would replace Ms Donaldson as agriculture minister. However, the agriculture and fisheries portofolio is recognised as one of the least important under the Palaszczuk administration, despite primary industries being one of the critical pillars of the Queensland economy.
Ms Donaldson’s revelations caps off a horror week for the minority Palaszczuk government which is also under pressure to sack Transport minister Stirling Hinchcliff over his handling of the Queensland Rail driver debacle.
