Former mayor's ex-wife testifies at committal hearing

The ex-wife of former Logan mayor Luke Smith says a boat at the centre of corruption allegations was a straightforward purchase.

Andrea Millberry-Smith is giving evidence on the second day of Smith's committal hearing on perjury and corruption charges at Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

Ms Millberry-Smith says the boat was in a state of disrepair when Smith purchased it from a former company director who had donated to his election campaign.

She said the purchase was not a sweetener to push through a development application for a 15-storey hotel in Springwood.

On Tuesday witnesses were quizzed about whether Smith received a powerboat from a political donor in exchange for pushing through a hotel development application which exceeded height regulations.

Smith's former adviser Mark Pascoe and a former associate of Smith's political donor said the purchasing of the powerboat came months after the development application was submitted to the Logan City Council.

Both testified that the submission was lodged before Smith became mayor in 2016, and at no point in prior meetings was there any discussion of a boat.

The court heard the application asked for a 15-storey building when the council limit was 10.

Mr Pascoe said Smith wanted taller buildings because of his vision for the region, rather than as a deal with a political donor to support his mayoral bid.

Smith was arrested in 2018 after an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission while he was mayor.

The matter is set down five days and is expected to hear from a total of 12 witnesses.