There have been calls for further investigation into the recent Gold Coast City council election, after it has emerged that the Liberal National Party, the Labor party, allies of the property development industry and unions have funded candidates who declared themselves independent.

Following the 2004 inquiry into Gold Coast council elections, Queensland law was changed in 2007 to create three categories of candidates: independents, groups, and political parties. All candidates must declare their status before the election, and penalties apply if candidates fail to disclose accurately.

The Queensland Local Government Department has written to Queensland's Electoral Commissioner asking him to investigate whether any candidates broke the rules.

The Gold Coast City council is one of the largest councils in Australia, with a budget of more than $1 billion. Many of its decisions are crucial to property developers, in particular the upcoming decision about a controversial twin-tower residential development on the low-rise Gold Coast spit. The towers were designed by the late Zaha Hadid.

Last night's 7.30 program revealed that several councillors elected to the Gold Coast City council in March have links to the Liberal National Party and property developers. Today's The Australian reports that hard-left unions also provided funding and volunteers for so-called independent candidates.

The 15 councillors sworn in after the March election all declared themselves independent. However, it has emerged that two councillors were bankrolled by Stuart Robert, a federal Liberal National MP and supporter of the twin-tower development. Another councillor received funding from the Fadden Forum, a LNP fundraiser.

Dawn Chichow, who has been on the Gold Coast council for a record nine terms, said to 7.30, "You should say I have been donated some money from the liberal party, but I believe I am truly independent. You can say that."

However, the funding was not declared until recently, with the candidates in question claiming prior to the election they were "totally independent".

7.30 also revealed that four councillors, including Gold Coast City council mayor Tom Tate, shared a campaign director with links to the Liberal National Party, Simone Holzapfel. Holzapfel is a former Tony Abbott staffer, and a lobbyist for developers.

The Australian has revealed today that the Electrical Trades Union provided funding and volunteers for independent candidates during the election.

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