Latest Newman Government Crisis Demands Investigation

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says senior LNP members from the Premier down must explain why information on a deal to shoehorn Campbell Newman into State Parliament was not presented to a 2011 Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation.

“Today we have yet another crisis for a crisis-prone government and the Premier, Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Bruce Flegg and senior LNP officials all have some explaining to do,” Ms Palaszczuk.

“This matter must be referred immediately by the Premier to the police or the CMC for another investigation.

“Senior LNP identities from the Premier down need to declare what they knew about the allegations — backed by taped conversations — of a deal to offer Bruce Flegg a government posting to vacate the seat of Moggill for Mr Newman."

“Details revealed in the tapes reflect the substance of allegations published in March 2011 which were strongly denied at the time by LNP figures both publicly and to a subsequent CMC investigation."

“There is now a cloud over the integrity of all allegedly involved in these conversations from Mr Flegg himself, LNP president Bruce McIver, LNP identity Bob Tucker, and would-be Senator and LNP heavy Barry O’Sullivan.

“All of them and the Premier need to say what they knew about the alleged offer to Mr Flegg and when they knew it."

“The recorded conversation between Mr Flegg and LNP powerbrokers on March 18 was just days before Mr Newman announced his plan to run in Ashgrove and become LNP leader outside State Parliament."

“Mr Newman initially denied a plan to switch to state politics, so it is legitimate to ask what the Premier knew of the conversations between Mr Flegg and the LNP officials in the lead-up to his 22 March 2011 announcement."

“Treasurer Tim Nicholls is on the public record saying he hosted a meeting at his Hendra house on 21 March 2011 with Mr Newman and now Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney where they discussed Mr Newman’s plans to lead the LNP."

“So Mr Nicholls and Mr Seeney must also outline exactly what they knew about the conversations with Mr Flegg.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Queenslanders needed to know if anyone in the LNP government or its organisational wing had misled the state’s corruption watchdog or gave false evidence to its original inquiry.

She said if proved, perjury carried a maximum 14-year jail term.