In May Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad asked the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission to look into political donations, but she might now be ruing that decision. The Palaszczuk government was keen on the investigation to find out whether there had been a sizeable undeclared “LNP bloc” in the recent Gold Coast local government elections (candidates who fail to declare any campaign co-ordination could face two years in prison). But now the dog might be about to bite the master — we’ve heard whispers the independent CCC is after a senior Labor scalp.

Says Labor insider (and sometime Crikey scribe) Ben Chiefly:

“I have been advised that CCC is actively and seriously investigating and interviewing people who have come forward to report several high-profile Gold Coast-based Queensland Labor figures for being possibly connected to the recent local government election scandal and potentially engaging in corrupt conduct.

“These links are believed to reach into the highest levels of Queensland Labor and a Palaszczuk government ministerial office.”