CCC chairman Alan MacSporran opened proceedings to examine allegations of corruption against candidates in last year's Queensland local government elections at the CCC's Fortitude Valley headquarters on Tuesday.

Over the course of the hearing, two federal MPs - former Turnbull government minister Stuart Robert and Labor frontbencher Shayne Neumann - along with mayors and councillors from three south-east Queensland councils will be called to give evidence.

Counsel assisting the hearing Glen Rice, QC, said the CCC would hear allegations that some council candidates had purported to be independent, but were part of a group of candidates that shared resources.

Mr Rice said it would also examine whether candidates did not declare donations and gifts, had misled voters by failing to make those declarations, and had "real or perceived" conflicts of interest.

Electoral Commission of Queensland commissioner Walter van der Merwe told the hearing that the number of complaints had increased since the previous election, four years earlier.

"Compared to 2012, I believe the level of complaints were significantly higher," he said.

"Those complaints arose or were made about alleged funding and disclosure matters and how-to-vote cards, which they believed shouldn't have been used."

Mr Rice asked Mr van der Merwe for a possible reason for the increase, the commissioner pointed to the higher number of candidates, which numbered 1787.

"A number of those complaints weren't necessarily against all council areas," he said.

"They focussed predominantly down the coast - Moreton Bay, Ipswich and the Gold Coast - where there were allegations which were made to me.

"I operate on the basis that I'd rather hear about it than not hear about it and some of those allegations, I thought, were reasonably significant and needed further investigation and review, and I think that's why we're here today."

Mr van der Merwe said he did "not have the capacity" to ensure all candidates followed the legislation and it would be difficult to ensure a candidate declared all his or her donations and gifts.

But Mr van der Merwe conceded the ECQ was somewhat limited in its ability to fully scrutinise candidates and relied on a "trust factor" that donations and gifts were being properly disclosed.

The ECQ had prepared a guide for candidates, Mr van der Merwe said, which included requirements for a single campaign bank account.

"There is an assumption that a candidate will have an operating account and the details of that account - the ingoings and outgoings - we can certainly have a look at that," he said.

"We can't cover for a candidate who might run two or three accounts. As far as we're concerned, the legislation says you have one and that's what you run with.

"If you have two or three and are caught out, you then commit an offence and you will be prosecuted for that.

"So again, it's going back to this trust factor. I'll provide you with all the information to keep you honest, to keep you transparent, so the people of Queensland have faith in the process, that it's transparent and that it's actually working."

Mr van der Merwe said the ECQ guidelines on funding were clear.

"If you follow my guidelines you cannot make a mistake," he said.

Mr Rice said between 20 and 25 witnesses were expected to be called in the duration of the hearing.

The hearing continues.