Government in disarray as MP’s offending revealed

Written By: - Date published: 10:40 am, April 2nd, 2015 - 16 comments
Categories: accountability, australian politics, Dirty Politics, Politics - Tags: ,

Last month in perhaps the biggest comeback since (according to some) Lazarus returned from the dead the Queensland Labor Party won back power in the state.  The party had slumped to 7 seats out of 89 at the previous election but thanks at least in part to the appalling reign of Tony Abbott nationally and Campbell Newman locally Labor won a knife edge majority.  The party has 44 of the 89 seats in Queensland’s Parliament and rely on an independent for confidence and supply.

Recent revelations concerning Labor MP Billy Gordon have caused ructions.  He did not disclose to the party criminal convictions that he has which include burglary, public nuisance, breach of bail and theft.  The offending is somewhat historic with the last occurring in 1999 but more recently he was served with an apprehended violence order and allegations have been made by a former partner that he subjected her to sustained domestic abuse.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has forced him to resign from the Labor Party caucus and is insisting that he should resign as a Member of Parliament.  Gordon is resisting this and is stating that he will remain on the cross benches although he will give Labor his vote.

She has referred the matter to the police to investigate.  Before the last election she had a candidate deselected after allegations of domestic violence were made against him.  I can’t think what else she could have done.

The Liberals are criticising Palaszczuk and asking her when she found out and why she did not act earlier.  The domestic violence allegation was made in a letter received on March 18 and it took her about a week to act.  Given the circumstances I would categorise her speed as being exceptionally fast and the extent of her actions perfectly appropriate.

Clearly the Liberal National Party is behind the release of the allegations and have played some part in the timing of their disclosure.  Dirty politics is not exclusively a local problem.

It makes you wonder how a similar scandal would be handled over here …

16 comments on “Government in disarray as MP’s offending revealed ”

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  1. Anne 1
    2 April 2015 at 11:05 am

    It makes you wonder how a similar scandal would be handled over here …

    In terms of a similar scandal but not exactly the same… we already know.

    1) Sit on it for six months, nine months, a year or maybe 3 years.

    2) Give the culprit a select committee chairmanship directly pertaining to the alleged offences.

    3) When the shit hits the fan deny all knowledge of it despite evidence the matter was known about for a long time.

    4) When all else fails, [Careful – MS]

  2. tc 2
    2 April 2015 at 11:13 am

    It’s Queensland mickey, nuff said.

  3. tracey 3
    2 April 2015 at 11:20 am

    Over here the ACT party didn’t care. I think they see it as a pre requisite…

    A criminal background or predilection…

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4
    2 April 2015 at 11:30 am

    Not sure what is there for the “police to investigate”

    All he did as far as the Qld labor party are concerned about was failing to declare his convictions.
    Since they were convictions they have been dealt with by the courts.

    Being a despicable person, as we have seen many times is no bar to serving in parliament.

    • mickysavage 4.1
      2 April 2015 at 11:32 am

      His former partner’s domestic violence allegations were to be investigated. I agree that failing to declare should not be a problem as long as he did not make a statutory declaration when he submitted his nomination to the party.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1.1
        2 April 2015 at 12:51 pm

        A statuary declaration didnt seem to stop John Key when he enrolled in Helensville electorate before becoming the candidate.

        He signed the form saying he had lived at the address for at least a month, when he had never moved out of his Remuera address.

        The Queensland guy seems to have allegations from his partner, which seemed to be unearthed by the Lib nats. because thats how dirty politics works.
        Could that be a set up?

        Wouldnt mind betting Nationals X men who moved out of the PMs office to a PR consultants because of Dirty Politics are working overtime on NZ First MPs.

  5. Ad 5
    2 April 2015 at 11:59 am

    Touche!

    Although it’s not as if John Key hasn’t paid for Sabin’s own “indiscretions”. As a result the Prime Minister has had the worst political setback he has ever suffered since 2008 – through a mere by-election (Personally I don’t see it as a setback, but I realize most do).

    Sometimes it’s better to have your legs fully waxed than simply plucking each hair out one by one. That is, Queensland will go through what they have to go through, fairly quickly. A government will form.

    Whereas John Key has certainly kicked the Sabin device down the road (which may have [careful – MS]), but that device will certainly continue to corrode National from within, for years to come.

  6. toad 6
    2 April 2015 at 2:20 pm

    It makes you wonder how a similar scandal would be handled over here …

    I think many of us know the answer to that, but can’t publish it.

  7. felix 7
    2 April 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Cheeky headline micky 😀

  8. jenny kirk 8
    2 April 2015 at 3:49 pm

    Might be accurate MS, but like felix says – very cheeky, and likely to lead to initial misapprehension. I wonder how many did like I did : read it with great anticipation expecting it to lead to …….. (you know what !)
    Let down with a thump !!

  9. Stuart Munro 9
    2 April 2015 at 4:22 pm

    In fact there seem to be significant parallels between the BBC’s handling of Jimmy Saville, and National’s handling of the Sabin imbroglio.

  10. The Fairy Godmother 10
    2 April 2015 at 4:56 pm

    Mickey you had me so disappointed. I thought for a moment that “the family” reasons behind the buy election had finally been revealed.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 10.1
      2 April 2015 at 5:24 pm

      In general FG, victims are treated shabbily while the offenders who are powerful are protected and shielded ferociously, in general that is.