Liberal National party fundraising bodies forced to correct AEC returns
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Version 0 of 1. A group of powerful fundraising bodies linked to the Queensland Liberal National party have made substantial and repeated errors in their political donation disclosures while their accounting was managed by the party itself, and have been forced to make millions of dollars in corrections to their annual returns. A series of AEC reviews into the Altum Property Trust, Altum HQ Trust and LNP Nominees Pty Ltd has found serious discrepancies in their donation disclosures. The AEC has also revealed that the entity’s accounting was previously managed in-house by the Queensland Liberal National Party itself. Related: Revealed: political parties' widespread failure to disclose donations The findings form part of a broader cache of AEC compliance reviews released to Guardian Australia under freedom of information laws. These types of reviews are initiated periodically by the AEC to determine whether parties are meeting their disclosure obligations. The reviews of the Queensland Liberal National party associated entities have revealed: Related: Liberal and National parties tried to stop release of AEC reviews of their finances Related: Political parties' fortunes laid out in black and white – and red – by AEC In May 2014 a further review was finalised into the 2011-2012 disclosures of LNP Nominees, the Altum HQ Trust and the Altum Property Trust. The reviews did not find any material discrepancies that required correction. But the current financial financial controller also said that they “did not have access to work papers of the previous financial controller”. A spokesman for the Australian Electoral Commission has also since confirmed that the Queensland Liberal National party itself was previously managing the accounting of the entities in-house. “The ‘separation’ mentioned refers to the accounting arrangements, not the disclosure status,” he said. “The accounting/bookkeeping for the trusts has moved from being performed in-house by the LNP’s administrative staff to now being external to the party and maintained separately.” “Both before and after this change in accounting responsibilities associated entity disclosure returns were being lodged.” While some of the amendments made to the associated entities’ annual returns has been reported previously, the reviews provide new details about the circumstances of the changes and the pattern of findings made by the AEC. Greens senator Lee Rhiannon said the breadth of errors and inconsistencies was extremely high, and called for a more in-depth investigation into the entities. “This incredibly complex web of multi million transactions really stands out,” she said. “The next step with regard to Altum and St Paul’s terrace should be a really thorough investigation.” The most recent financial controller of the Queensland Liberal National party associated entities has not responded to emails or calls. A previous financial controller who is listed on some of the amending returns, Monique Carlson, said: “I have nothing to do with that anymore. I haven’t had anything to do with that in ages.” A Liberal National party Queensland spokesman said: “The LNP has assisted the AEC in answering all questions over its returns during the review and will take any advice into consideration.” “The LNP fully complies with all state and federal electoral laws.” Guardian Australia has been investigating how political parties comply with their disclosure obligations, and the extent of the AEC’s auditing procedures. The reviews conducted by the AEC since January 2013 have been published in full, along with responses from the parties. |