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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/18/gold-coast-deputy-mayors-voting-pattern-puts-donation-laws-in-spotlight
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| Gold Coast deputy mayor's voting pattern puts donation laws in spotlight | Gold Coast deputy mayor's voting pattern puts donation laws in spotlight |
| (4 months later) | |
| Donna Gates reportedly declared conflict of interest on more than 30 applications that she voted in favour of, prompting calls for law to be changed | |
| Australian Associated Press | |
| Mon 18 Sep 2017 04.52 BST | |
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| Queensland’s developer donations laws should be reviewed, an academic says, following a report a Gold Coast councillor voted on dozens of applications despite declaring a potential conflict of interest beforehand. | Queensland’s developer donations laws should be reviewed, an academic says, following a report a Gold Coast councillor voted on dozens of applications despite declaring a potential conflict of interest beforehand. |
| The ABC has reported the Gold Coast deputy mayor, Donna Gates, declared a “real or perceived conflict of interest” on more than 30 applications since last year’s election. | The ABC has reported the Gold Coast deputy mayor, Donna Gates, declared a “real or perceived conflict of interest” on more than 30 applications since last year’s election. |
| Gates cast her vote in each application regardless, a practice that is allowed under Queensland legislation. | Gates cast her vote in each application regardless, a practice that is allowed under Queensland legislation. |
| In New South Wales property developer donations are illegal, while in Victoria councillors who receive donations of $500 or more from a person or company with a direct interest in a matter at a council meeting must immediately declare a conflict of interest and leave the room before any discussion or vote takes place. | In New South Wales property developer donations are illegal, while in Victoria councillors who receive donations of $500 or more from a person or company with a direct interest in a matter at a council meeting must immediately declare a conflict of interest and leave the room before any discussion or vote takes place. |
| Prof Clive Bean from the Queensland University of Technology has called for Queensland’s laws to reflect community attitudes towards potential conflicts of interest. | Prof Clive Bean from the Queensland University of Technology has called for Queensland’s laws to reflect community attitudes towards potential conflicts of interest. |
| “It’s a matter of conforming, in a way, to community standards,” Bean said. “People are now of the view that conflicts of interest are important to be revealed and acted upon. | “It’s a matter of conforming, in a way, to community standards,” Bean said. “People are now of the view that conflicts of interest are important to be revealed and acted upon. |
| “If one can’t show quite clearly that one can be impartial, then the obvious thing to do is to stand aside and let people who are impartial deal with relevant matters.” | “If one can’t show quite clearly that one can be impartial, then the obvious thing to do is to stand aside and let people who are impartial deal with relevant matters.” |
| Gates defended her actions, saying there was no suggestion she had done anything wrong because she declared her potential conflicts of interest. | Gates defended her actions, saying there was no suggestion she had done anything wrong because she declared her potential conflicts of interest. |
| She denied any implication her votes had been influenced by donations to her campaign. | She denied any implication her votes had been influenced by donations to her campaign. |
| “When I’ve stayed in the room, I’ve stayed in the room to ensure a better outcome for the community, nothing else,” Gates said. “It’s fairly disappointing it’s being portrayed in the way it is.” | “When I’ve stayed in the room, I’ve stayed in the room to ensure a better outcome for the community, nothing else,” Gates said. “It’s fairly disappointing it’s being portrayed in the way it is.” |
| Gates was elected unopposed at last year’s local election and it has been reported she has declared $174,000 in campaign donations since that poll. | Gates was elected unopposed at last year’s local election and it has been reported she has declared $174,000 in campaign donations since that poll. |
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