https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/mps-marriage-breakdown-revealed-as-federal-electio/3617067

Family man David Littleproud has confirmed his marriage split.

REGIONAL NEWS

MP's marriage breakdown revealed as federal election looms

Marian Faa, Warwick Daily News

an hour ago

MEMBER for Maranoa David Littleproud has confirmed he has separated from his wife of 20 years, as he prepares to re-contest his seat in the federal election this year.

Mr Littleproud confirmed he and wife Sarah, who have three young boys together, had been estranged for "some months".

"It is an amicable split," Mr Littleproud said.

"My wife Sarah and I have been separated for some time but it is not from a third party."

Ms Littleproud's name has since been removed from the biography on her husband's parliamentary website but mention of their sons Tom, Hugh and Harry remains.

It is understood the children currently attend school in Warwick, where the family has lived for the past 17 years.

In a previous interview with the Warwick Daily News, Mr Littleproud described himself as a family man with "conservative values".

The Daily News contacted Ms Littleproud, who declined to comment saying it was a sensitive issue for her children.

"I am a private person and I don't want to be involved," Ms Littleproud said.

Warwick Golf Club women's president Judy Lester, club member Mary Young, David Littleproud and his family Hugh, Sarah, Harry and Tom after the presentation of a new Australian flag.

The couple were married in 1999 and Ms Littleproud runs two businesses in Warwick.

The personal revelations have surfaced in the midst of robust social media exchanges and following a period of uncertainty about whether Mr Littleproud would be re-endorsed to represent the National Party of Australia in the upcoming federal election.

The Agricultural Minister's name was left off a list of members to re-contest their seats at a LNP state council meeting in November, but Mr Littleproud has since been re-endorsed as the candidate for Maranoa.

He said it would be an honour to represent his electorate for another term.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce owns several parcels of land 20km from the Inland rail project

SHARRI MARKSON, NATIONAL POLITICAL EDITOR, The Daily Telegraph
February 21, 2018 5:28am
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/deputy-prime-minister-barnaby-joyce-owns-several-parcels-of-land-20km-from-the-inland-rail-project/news-story/677e96e1ae43bd12ae03fb810b531893

DEPUTY Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce did not declare during Cabinet discussions on the Inland Rail that he had bought five large parcels of land within a 15-minute drive from the planned route.

When former Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester took the Inland Rail project to Cabinet, The Daily Telegraph understands it passed quickly, with no mention from Mr Joyce of any potential conflict of interest relating to five lots of land he had bought within about 20km of the project.

Nationals MP Darren Chester speaking with Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce. Picture: Kym Smith

The current Nationals leader’s office said that he was not required to make any declaration.

Mr Joyce purchased the first two blocks of rural land, on two separate land titles, in Warrumbungle Shire, north of Coonamble, in July 2006 for $230,000.

He added to his land purchase two years later with an adjacent Gwabegar property and a second Warrumbungle property, occupying another two land titles, in February 2008 for $342,571.

The Cabinet handbook’s section on Declarations of Private Interests states: “Ministers and officials attending Cabinet or Cabinet committee meetings must declare any private interests of which they are aware.”

A map showing Joyce's property in relation to the proposed rail line

Mr Joyce’s spokeswoman indicated that he did not need to declare the land to Cabinet during discussions on the ­Inland Rail route.

“There has never been a proposal to have a stop near Warrumbungle or Gwabegar,” she said. “Mr Joyce has had no role in selecting the route.”

Opposition Infrastructure, Transport and Regional ­Development spokesman Anthony Albanese said this appeared to be yet another breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct by Mr Joyce.

“Given that Barnaby Joyce has spoken about the benefits of Inland Rail for those on the land along the route, it is reasonable to expect he would be mindful of declaring any direct interest he might have,” he said.

The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Chester took the proposal to Cabinet and it was adopted swiftly. The only area of debate was the route’s alignment near Toowoomba in Queensland.

The value of the rural land properties near the Inland Rail route would be expected to increase when the project is complete.

At the time he purchased the first two lots of land in 2006, Mr Joyce was a Queensland senator in the Howard government.

Joyce’s office said that he was not required to make any declaration on the land in question. Picture: Gary Ramage

During 2006 work was done by then transport and regional services minister Warren Truss on proposed routes for a potential inland rail project.

The North-South Rail Corridor Study, made public in September 2006, included Coonamble as a stop on a proposed route.

The proposed rail route is about 20km west of Mr Joyce’s properties.

Father’s message to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce: ‘Give yourself an uppercut’

Chris Calcino, The Cairns Post
February 8, 2018 12:01am

THE estranged father of Barnaby Joyce’s pregnant new partner has told the deputy prime minister to “give himself an uppercut”.

Mr Joyce’s new relationship with 33-year-old former Tolga resident Vikki Campion has become national headline fodder after it emerged the couple was expecting a baby in April.

Ms Campion, a former Atherton State High School student, worked as a journalist for the Tablelander in Atherton and the Townsville Bulletin before moving to Sydney’s Daily Telegraph and then landing a job as Mr Joyce’s media adviser.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Vikki Campion. Picture: Adam Taylor

Her father, prolific Cairns Post letter writer Peter Campion, said he had not spoken to his daughter for several years following a falling-out.

The retired firefighter said he first learned of Ms Campion’s relationship with the 50-year-old New England MP from media reports yesterday.


“Vikki’s mother and I think that with Baaa-naby as dad the kid will probably be a perfect little lamb,” he said in a written statement to the Cairns Post.

Retired firefighter Peter Campion's daughter Vikki Campion is expecting a baby with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

“Politics sure does make for strange bedfellows.

“We just never imagined our daughter would hop into one with a former Kiwi.”

Mr Campion has been an outspoken critic of the Turnbull government, which he says has forgotten its conservative values.

He last penned a scathing letter to Mr Joyce in August but doubted it was read.


“Our future son-in-law should give himself an uppercut for failing to give one to the PM,” he said.

A pregnant Vikki Campion pictured in Canberra. Picture John Grainger

Retired firefighter Peter Campion's daughter Vikki Campion is expecting a baby with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

“I will soon be having a deep and meaningful discussion with young Barnyard and explaining to him carefully and logically why he needs to put the ‘coal’ back into ‘coalition’.


“When the deputy prime minister calls to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage I will be informing him at length on the many shortcomings of the Nationals and their partners in the Talkbull Coagulation Team.

Vikki Campion and Barnaby Joyce. Source: Facebook

“Vikki’s mother and I have high hopes for the couple and their new family unit and we do hope that Baa can find a respectable job one day.”

Mr Joyce announced in the same-sex marriage debate in parliament in December he had split from his wife of 24 years Natalie Joyce, the mother of his four children.

One of the architects of the change, Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, said he was not in a position to pass judgment.


“This is his personal life,” he said. “I think it’s something he has to deal with.”

Andrew Laming family trip sparks taxpayer anger

Andrew and Olesja Laming.

The Australian
12:00AM January 5, 2018
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/andrew-laming-family-trip-sparks-taxpayer-anger/news-story/4244760da7eec2692db4a1da9d27bcb3

RACHEL BAXENDALE
ReporterCanberra
@rachelbaxendale

ROSIE LEWIS
ReporterCanberra
@rosieslewis

Liberal backbencher Andrew Laming’s $13,500 bill to the taxpayer for business-class flights for his wife and daughters to join him on a trip to a remote indigenous community last year would still be acceptable under new rules intended to end travel rorts, which came into effect on Monday.

Under the new rules, introduced following the Sussan Ley and Bronwyn Bishop expense scandals, politicians may still claim three business-class return trips each financial year to anywhere in Australia for family members.

Spouses are also entitled to nine business-class return trips to Canberra or within the parliamentarian’s electorate, while up to three economy-class trips to Canberra or within the electorate can be claimed for each dependent child.

The peak body representing taxpayers, the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, said Mr Laming’s claim, revealed in The Australian yesterday, was “unconscionable”, while Nick Xenophon Team senator Stirling Griff said it did not appear the taxpayer had got “value for money”.

Former Labor leader Mark Latham said parliamentarians should have to apply for ­taxpayer-funded travel in advance. “The onus of proof should be on the MP to demonstrate ... that yes, this is parliamentary business, somehow related to their electorate and their official duties, rather than a family holiday or visiting the boyfriend,” he told 2GB.

The controversy over Mr Laming’s travel comes as the government prepares to spend $38.1 million over four years to overhaul outdated systems used by politicians and their staff to report expenses. The reforms are designed to make politicians’ expenses more transparent after the independent review into the parliamentary entitlements system recommended the urgent development of a fit-for-purpose, integrated online system.

Under the changes, MPs should be able to make claims faster and more efficiently, with three-monthly reporting of ­expenses expected to become monthly reporting.

Special Minister of State Mat­hias Cormann and his Labor counterpart, Don Farrell, declined to comment on questions regarding the appropriateness of Mr Laming’s expenditure.

Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance director of policy Satyajeet Marar said: “At a time when gross public debt is ballooning to nearly $600 billion and politicians keep telling us we need to tighten our belts, it’s unconscionable for hardworking Aussie families to foot the bill for expensive ­business-class family holidays.

“Though there have been some changes to entitlement rules and stricter reporting requirements, instances like this show that there will always be loopholes or ways to pass the rules that fall short of community expectations or the standards of the private sector,” he said.

“The only way to ensure meaningful change is to have a public, online disclosure portal for travel spending and allow­ances in real time.

“CEOs are accountable to their shareholders and politicians should have no problem with taxpayers vetting how our money is used.

“This will ensure that a politician’s travel entitlements pass the pub test rather than simply complying with the regulations.”

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, who at 23 is parliament’s youngest senator, said all MPs should be “discouraged” from taking taxpayer-funded trips with their families.

Senator Griff said taxpayers did not seem to have got “value for money” from Mr Laming’s family accompanying him to ­Kununurra.

“You need to look at economic ways to undertake such trips and whether it’s appropriate to have your kids travel with you or not, or have your kids travel business class,” Senator Griff told The ­Australian.

“I’ve never had a situation where any member of my family has travelled business class with me.”

In January last year, Ms Ley was forced to step down as health minister after it was revealed she had made 27 taxpayer-funded trips to the Gold Coast in recent years, using one to buy a $795,000 apartment and another two to attend New Year’s Eve ­cele­brations.

In 2015, Ms Bishop resigned as Speaker following revelations she had spent more than $5200 to charter a helicopter from Melbourne to a Liberal Party fundraiser near Geelong rather than making the hour-long car journey.

Mr Latham suggested the new Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority was not up to the task of cracking down on rorts. “My suspicion was always going to be that there would be members of the insiders club, the establishment, people who are very much sympathetic to parliamentary entitlements who’d be on the board of this authority,” he said.

“That is the case. I’ve got a concern that two former machine politicians — that is, people who ran political parties and were in favour of entitlements because it makes it easier to campaign at election time — they’ve been part of this authority, Gary Gray and Nick Minchin. Now I don’t think they’re hardheads.”

The Australian has confirmed that Mr Gray stood aside as an IPEA board member last year, amid the illness and subsequent death from breast cancer of his wife, Deborah Walsh.

Mr Minchin, who has been appointed as Mr Gray’s temporary replacement, said the authority had been structured so that one former MP was in the minority on the five-member board, which is chaired by former ASIC commissioner Jillian Segal.

Other board members include Remuneration Tribunal president John Conde; barrister, accountant and corporate gov­ernance expert Julianne Jaques; and former Federal Court judge Jeffrey Spender.

“The parliament sensibly decided it was a good idea to have one former MP on the board,” Mr Minchin said.

“It is useful to bring to bear my experience as a former senator, special minister of state and minister in the Howard government.

“I certainly don’t see myself there as a lobbyist for or representative of MPs, but I believe it is helpful to have my first-hand ­experience of the realities of being an MP at the table.”

Queensland Election 2017: Six MPs leaving Queensland Parliament

Trenton Akers, The Courier-Mail

October 30, 2017 12:00am

WITH the dissolution of the 55th Queensland Parliament, there are six members that are set to bid farewell to politics in the state.


With differing reasons from retirement to ill health and even losing preselection – despite being a sitting member – Queensland will lose some of its most distinguished political figures.

Lawrence Springborg. Picture: Jono Searle.

Jeff Seeney. Picture: Darren England.

Lawrence Springborg, Jeff Seeney, Ian Rickuss and Speaker Peter Wellington have all announced they will retire after lengthy careers in politics while former Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne has quit citing ill health.


LNP MP Verity Barton was forced to make way in her seat of Broadwater for returning candidate David Crisafulli.

Mick de Brenni. Picture: Supplied

Outgoing Speaker Peter Wellington. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Wellington was able to leave the Parliament on the back of a fiery speech he made in relation to a security of payment bill for subcontractors just last week.


The long-time independent MP hit out at Master Builders for their attack on Housing Minister Mick de Brenni and praised the Palaszczuk Government for their persistence in passing the bill.

Retiring Lockyer MP Ian Rickuss. Picture: Jono Searle.

“Thankfully, we have a minister and a government that have shown, when evidence is produced of the failure of our current laws, they will take action and they will not cower and look the other way or allow themselves to be bought off by unscrupulous construction companies that want to continue to operate unfettered in Queensland and continue to use, for their own


purposes, money owing to subcontractors and small businesses,” he said.

Rogue Dawson MP George Christensen drops LNP branding in online posts

Matthew Killoran, The Courier-Mail
October 21, 2017 12:00am
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/rogue-dawson-mp-george-christensen-drops-lnp-branding-in-online-posts/news-story/5078ec63818ee0a3d48f4d29a7dc49a1

REFERENCE to the LNP has been removed from Dawson MP George Christensen’s communications, with new slogans and logos fuelling speculation about his future with the party.

The rogue MP, who has clashed repeatedly with his own government this term, has started a new conservative online journal called “Australia First”.

It is reminiscent of Senator Cory Bernardi who first launched his political party Australian Conservatives as a right-wing group in July 2016, before defecting from the Liberal Party in February.

But Mr Christensen said he was not preparing to split and was simply doing a website and social media overhaul.

Backbencher George Christensen has started a new conservative online journal called Australia First. Picture: AAP/Lukas Coch

“The changes are simply to get conformity in my own branding across all online platforms,” he said. “(The) website is still in beta mode so changes including logos are coming.”

If he were to leave, it would be a blow to the Turnbull Government which holds power with a majority of one seat.

Documents show Mr Christensen registered Australiafirst.com.au on Saturday, and his social media presence updated with new logos on Sunday.

His personal website, no longer bearing LNP logos or references to the party, talks about “defending the national interest” as well as “standing up for workers, small business owners and farming families”.

Last December Mr Christensen warned that unless the government changed its path there was only so long he could “remain inside the tent” without a new way of doing things.

“What the Turnbull Government needs to do is start being more loyal to the voters and the party members who sent us here, or there will come a time when remaining inside the tent is no longer tenable to my conscience or my voters,” he posted in December.

His personal website now describes him as “an Australian Member of Parliament who serves the Dawson electorate in North Queensland”.

The Australia First website says the online journal will mobilise support for “Australian values and our democratic, free way of life, our nation’s history and heritage against black armband revisionism”, as well as secure borders and the defence force, farmers, industry, small business and workers.

After several threats to cross the floor, Mr Christensen gave up his position as Nationals chief whip so he could speak more freely.

One Nation will not run a candidate against Cleveland MP Mark Robinson

Sarah Vogler, The Courier-Mail
September 12, 2017 12:00am
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/one-nation-will-not-run-a-candidate-against-cleveland-mp-mark-robinson/news-story/4dcff2d58aa0cc80f4cc76598a23cecf

THE LNP’s Cleveland MP Mark Robinson will be spared an election fight against One Nation with the resurgent party announcing it will not run a candidate against him.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Robinson, who was forced to rule out a switch to One Nation after he attended a dinner with Pauline Hanson late last year – is expected to be one of a handful of LNP MPs not to be challenged by the minor party.

Cleveland MP Mark Robinson. Picture: Supplied

One Nation has already announced it will not challenge Katter Party MPs Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth and would leave Jo-Ann Miller alone in the seat of Bundamba as well.

One Nation State Leader Steve Dickson told The Courier-Mail he had decided not to run a candidate against Mr Robinson either.

Mr Robinson holds the electorate – which will be renamed Oodgeroo at the next election following the redistribution – with a margin of just under 6 per cent.

“We’re not going to be running against Mark and it is very, very similar to Jo-Ann Miller,” Mr Dickson said. “Mark is a very honourable MP. He has always carried himself with distinction within Parliament.

“When the chips were down when I left the party, he was the only guy who really came out and said ‘I am going treat Steve as a person’. That demonstrates the human quality of people.

“If we end up with a Queensland Parliament full of Jo-Ann Millers and Mark Robinsons then I don’t think it is going to be bad for Queensland.”

Just which other LNP MPs will be spared a One Nation challenge is yet to be determined.

One Nation is still in the process of preselecting candidates and is yet to name challengers for LNP-held seats such as the electorate of Currumbin held by Opposition backbencher Jann Stuckey, Gaven held by Sid Cramp, Moggill held by Christian Rowan, Everton held by Tim Mander and Chatsworth held by Steve Minnikin.

Allegations against Petros Khalesirad revealed as Rob Pyne refuses to apologise over pregnant MP ‘stalker’ incident

Anthony Templeton, Melanie Petrinec, The Courier-Mail
September 8, 2017 12:00am
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/crime-and-justice/allegations-against-petros-khalesirad-revealed-as-rob-pyne-refuses-to-apologise-over-pregnant-mp-stalker-incident/news-story/ad9c9c0862ad1c77f9344b209b5e9e72

AN UNREPENTANT Rob Pyne has refused to apologise for allowing a man into State Parliament who is charged with stalking a pregnant MP, saying he believes the man is innocent.

The Courier-Mail can today reveal the extent of the allegations against Petros Khalesirad, who was sworn into Parliament on Tuesday by Mr Pyne in a “grave” security breach.

Bail documents filed in the Supreme Court, obtained by The Courier-Mail, reveal Khalesirad allegedly asked the neighbours of Keppel MP Brittany Lauga – who he is accused of stalking – about her morning routine and how many bedrooms she had in her house.

The bail documents also reveal a spate of angry Facebook messages sent by the self-styled political journalist to Ms Lauga.

Police also allege Khalesirad posted Ms Lauga’s private number and a picture of her home on Facebook.

Mr Pyne, who is now facing an ethics committee investigation into his behaviour in swearing Khalesirad into Parliament, yesterday said he would not apologise unless Khalesirad was found guilty, and questioned whether Ms Lauga was using stalking allegations to gag someone trying to investigate her.

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga. Picture: Annette Dew

“It seems to me that stalking is just a code word here for someone who is trying to investigate wrongdoing,” the Cairns MP said.

“I’d put money on him not being found guilty of stalking – I’d put a lot of money on it.

“If this gentleman is found guilty of stalking or harassing I will apologise unreservedly (but) I certainly don’t think that will be the case.”

Mr Pyne’s actions drew condemnation from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday, who said it could be a “very serious contempt of Parliament”.

“Those actions appear to have been very, very deliberate,” she said.

“The member concerned (Ms Lauga) is very distressed by this and I have personally spoken with her and reassured her if there’s anything I can do to assist her.


“I think everybody is shocked, not just members of this House, not just the staff that work here, but I think the widespread the community is also shocked especially when it is such a serious issue.”

Petros Khalesirad. Picture: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin

Mr Pyne is facing a fine or potential suspension from State Parliament for his behaviour, which could also prompt a wider security review of the parliamentary precinct.

Speaker Peter Wellington said there was a “prima facie” case that security procedures had been breached by Mr Pyne.

“I take breaches of our security procedures very seriously because of the potential risks posed to members, staff and the public,” he said.

“This matter involves wider issues of policy, including what sanctions are appropriate to be instituted against members for failing to follow security procedures whilst also taking into account the rights of members.”

According to the court documents obtained by The Courier-Mail, Ms Lauga’s neighbours, Jonathan and Shae Joyce, told police Khalesirad approached them as an IT expert to grow their business and made a number of inquiries about Ms Lauga.

“He asked about her daily routine, like when we saw her and if we knew when she was home,” Mrs Joyce said.


“He further asked if we had been inside her house and what it looked like from inside, and how many bedrooms it had.”

Cairns MP Rob Pyne. Picture: Annette Dew

Mrs Joyce said she also thought Khalesirad was “trying to work out what times Brittany was out walking her dog and if she was alone”.

“With all these questions he covered himself by saying things like, I wonder how many bedrooms her house has – it looks so large from the outside. And she keeps so fit walking her dog, I don’t know how she finds the time with her busy schedule,” Mrs Joyce said.

In an affidavit he tendered to the court, Khalesirad said he had no intention of being violent towards Ms Lauga or her family but it was “impossible” to keep 100m away from her as he had customers near her electorate office.

DV Connect chief executive Diane Mangan would not comment directly on the matter but said stalking was extremely serious.

“It is well known that stalking is very dangerous and can escalate into serious harm,” she said.

Khalesirad’s trial has begun in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court and is scheduled to resume in December.


The Courier-Mail unsuccessfully tried to contact Mr Khalesirad yesterday.

Questions asked over $30k developer donation to LNP after controversial apartments approved

The development in Lambert Street at Kangaroo Point. Picture: Darren Cartwright

Tom Snowdon, The Courier-Mail

http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/questions-asked-over-30k-developer-donation-to-lnp-after-controversial-apartments-approved/news-story/ad43dbb3e5e4ef54bf77366434283d19

A DEVELOPER that had a contentious apartment block approved in Brisbane donated $30,000 to the Liberal-National Party during last year’s local election campaign.

Brisbane City Council’s development assessment officer’s approved Pointcorp’s 69-unit Kangaroo Point apartment complex in September, 2015, after earlier raising concerns about the size of the development on the 979sq m site.

Council pointed out issues that included inadequate setbacks from the street, small balconies and a lack of car parks for the 12-storey development. However, a council spokeswoman later told The Courier-Mail the developer had provided expert information to justify the reduced setbacks.

An artist's impression of the Pointcorp "Magnus" development at Kangaroo Point.

The “boutique style” development’s approval was followed by a $30,000 donation to the LNP on February 26, 2016, in the lead up to the March local government elections, according to the Electoral Commission of Queensland website. There were no other donations made to any political parties, according to the website.

The LNP went on to retain Brisbane’s local government, taking 19 of the city’s 26 wards, with LNP Lord Mayor Graham Quirk returning to power.

A council spokesman said: “Donations to political parties have no impact whatsoever on decisions made by council officers and any suggestion to the contrary are strongly rejected.”

Opposition Labor Leader Peter Cumming said he had forwarded the development approval to the State Ombudsman for review after a “detailed analysis by a building designer”.

“We are concerned that within six weeks of substantial breaches of the CityPlan 2014 being pointed out by council’s own development assessment officers, the project was waved through,” Cr Cumming said.

The LNP went on to retain Brisbane’s local government, taking 19 of the city’s 26 wards, with LNP Lord Mayor Graham Quirk returning to power. Picture: David Clark/AAP

“That was enough to convince us to ask the Ombudsman for a review.

“When you factor in the $30,000 donation by developers Pointcorp to the LNP during the council election campaign, we believe there are some serious questions that need to be answered.”

The development, assessed under the State Government’s performance-based Sustainable Planning Act, is one of seven Pointcorp developments around Brisbane.

Billed as “boutique style development”, an advertisement for the Magnus building reads: “With a confidence far deeper than its bricks and mortar, Magnus dominates not just the Kangaroo Point skyline but also the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to behold it.”

Pointcorp has been contacted for comment.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he was only made aware of the donation, which was legally made, after The Courier-Mail brought it to his attention this morning. (Tuesday)

“It was drawn to my attention following the media enquiry that Pointcorp were a donor but I don’t know the amount,” Cr Quirk said.

Katy Gallagher: Experts want Labor senator’s citizenship claim tested

Sharri Markson, The Daily Telegraph

August 29, 2017 7:44pm
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/katy-gallagher-experts-want-labor-senators-citizenship-claim-tested/news-story/5e50a2205d09ac09eb26e9f241a61caa

CONSTITUTIONAL experts have called for Labor’s Katy Gallagher to be referred to the High Court for a ruling on whether she is an Ecuadorean citizen who is disqualified from parliament.

The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday Ms Gallagher, one of the Opposition’s key attack dogs against the government on citizenship, is eligible for Ecuadorean citizenship under the South American country’s constitution because her mother was born there.

Professor of public law at the University of Sydney and accredited expert on Australian immigration law, Professor Mary Crock, said Ms Gallagher should be referred to the High Court, saying the Ecuadorean constitution was “pretty clear.”

Labor’s Katy Gallagher is the latest in the citizenship sting.

“It seems pretty clear. Even if you accept that that change occurred in 2008, she was elected in 2015 so I think this is a very unusual situation. She may be in trouble,” Prof Crock said. “The others are being referred and, of course, this has to be referred to the High Court.”

Constitutional expert and Dean of the Law Faculty at the University of New South Wales, Professor George Williams, said Ms Gallagher’s case had raised reasonable questions, similar to One Nation Malcolm Roberts’ and Nick Xenophon’s citizenship.

“There’s enough there that there are questions that need to be answered,” he said.


“I’ve looked at the material myself and I think what I said on a similar circumstance involving Malcolm Roberts was there was sufficient information there. It does require further investigation.


“Labor may provide more documents or provide clarity and also confidence in this area. If that doesn’t happen, then yes you would expect as with the other cases, there is enough there to be examined by the High Court.”

Prior to The Daily Telegraph’s revelations yesterday, Ms Gallagher had not sought legal advice about whether she could be an Ecuadorean citizen.

Yet Opposition Leader Bill Shorten refused to refer Ms Gallagher to the High Court for clarity on her case despite his party being unable to produce any evidence to support their claim that the Ecuadorean constitution is not retrospective­.

Katy Gallagher’s mother’s arrival card into Australia which shows the senator was born in Ecuador in South America.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott said “of course” Mr Shorten should refer Ms Gallagher to the High Court.

“If he were fair dinkum that’s what he’d do,” he said. “Shorten’s double standards here are outrageous and show you can’t trust Labor.”

Tony Abbott said “of course” Mr Shorten should refer Ms Gallagher to the High Court.. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Gallagher said the circumstances of her mother’s birth and citizenship were investigated “as part of the ALP vetting process”.

“As a result of these investigations it was determined that I had not obtained Ecuadorean citizenship by descent from my mother,” she said.

Prof Crock said even if Ms Gallagher did not actively apply to become an Ecuadorean citizen, the fact she was entitled to hold it would breach Australia’s constitution. “I think she’s caught very innocently by the change in law and probably not aware of it,” she said.

Glitter Strip Bare: Gold Coast news and gossip

Member for Gaven Sid Cramp contemplates his future, which may not involve politics if a preselection vote tomorrow fails to go his way.

Greg Stolz & Jeremy Pierce, The Courier-Mail
August 29, 2017 12:00am
http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/glitter-strip-bare-gold-coast-news-and-gossip/news-story/e8b5e8dfa2dd82038b95814a04630dd7

EXPLOSIVE video of a Gold Coast MP embroiled in a fiery neighbourhood spat will be shown to voters at a special preselection ballot tonight.

Member for Gaven Sid Cramp is seeking the endorsement of his electorate branch members to contest the looming election for the LNP, but he may struggle to get there, despite standing as an unopposed candidate.

Glitter Strip Bare understands branch members will be given the option to vote “no candidate” at tonight’s meeting, which would allow other contenders to throw their hats into the ring.

Making the assignment even tougher for Mr Cramp is the likelihood that branch members will be shown video footage of the neighbourhood dispute before tonight’s vote.

The LNP is in possession of two versions of the footage, one taken by Mr Cramp and another by the other party in the fiery confrontation.

It is understood there are differences between the two videos.


Gaven is viewed as a winnable seat by Labor, with the impressive Meaghan Scanlon emerging as a serious contender.

If the LNP branch members vote not to endorse Mr Cramp as the party’s preferred candidate, expect to see a couple of interesting alternatives step forward in the coming weeks.

Queensland’s LNP forced to reveal donors

LNP president Gary Spence. Picture: Annette Dew

The Australian
8:13PM August 21, 2017
Michael McKenna
Reporter Brisbane @McKennaattheOz
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/queenslands-lnp-forced-to-reveal-donors/news-story/a65defac27c5947c467755462a438e71

Queensland’s Liberal National Party has been hit with legal action by the state’s electoral commission to force the party to disclose the source of more than $100,000 in donations.

In an extraordinary move, the Electoral Commission of Queensland has filed the Supreme Court law suit after a two-year tussle with the LNP over its failure to reveal the identities of the donors.

The action is set to explode in state parliament on Tuesday with the Palaszczuk government previously accusing the LNP of trying to hide the source of the 28 donations — which range from $1100 to $10,000.

The donations were made in 2014 after the LNP Newman government had raised the declaration threshold from $1000 to $12,800, and the donations did not have to be declared.

But after Labor won power in 2015, the Palaszczuk government reversed the declaration limit back to $1000 and made the changes retrospective, requiring the donations be declared and the LNP resubmit its return to the ECQ.

The LNP has previously claimed it could not find the names of donors with some of the donations which were made as bank deposits with no identifying details included in the transfer.

In 2015, Electoral Commissioner Walter van der Merwe told a Budget Estimates hearing that he was seeking Crown law advice on the issue.

“We have requested that information. The LNP said that information was not available. But we will pursue it,’’ Mr van der Merwe said at the time.

LNP president Gary Spence could not be contacted on Monday night.


The action was filed in the Supreme Court last month, and will be the subject of a directions hearing on Tuesday.

Former LNP president Bruce McIver has previously said the LNP had made every effort to declare the donations.

“The 28 donations were just some of more than $4.7 million worth of donations made to the party last year,” Mr McIver said.

“The LNP has made every effort to comply with Labor’s retrospective laws and provide names of donors during the period when the higher threshold existed.

“In a comparatively small number of cases because names were not required to be recorded at the time, the Electoral Commission of Queensland has accepted that it has not been possible to provide some names.’’

One Nation wants Queensland to hand over $2.4b of its GST to WA

Jessica Marszalek, EXCLUSIVE, The Courier-Mail
August 20, 2017 12:00am
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/one-nation-wants-queensland-to-hand-over-24b-of-its-gst-to-wa/news-story/b6bf9715d8c743a24e9300ffca94c0e6

ONE Nation has proposed new GST funding model to a Commonwealth review that would cost Queensland a whopping $2.4 billion in just one year.

The party’s WA branch has written to the Productivity Commission asking for the Federal Government to unilaterally abolish the current system without the agreement of states and distribute GST payments on a new, per capita basis.

Analysis of the Commonwealth Grant Commission’s own figures shows such a move would cost Queensland $2.4 million in 2017-18 alone.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson was caught out backing moves to rob Queensland of GST revenue in order to give it to WA.

The suggestion follows a political storm during WA’s election in March when One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson was caught out backing moves to rob Queensland of GST revenue in order to give it to WA.

At the time, Senator Hanson denied her WA leader’s assertions that she had backed a plan to reduce Queensland’s allocation for the benefit of WA, but audio of a Perth radio interview in January emerged showing she had.

Under determinations by the Commonwealth Grants Commission, WA gets 30¢ in every dollar of GST raised in the state (about $2 billion a year), while Queensland receives $1.17 ($14.3 billion).

The One Nation submission, signed by WA state president Doug Shaw and WA leader Colin Tincknell, demands the Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation method — which takes into account a state or territory’s capacity to raise revenue in distributing GST — be abandoned.

Although the Commonwealth and states have long argued national consensus is needed to change the GST carve up, One Nation relies on Parliamentary Library advice that Treasurer Scott Morrison can “simply direct the Commonwealth Grants Commission” to change the model.

One Nation state leader Steve Dickson said the WA branch of the party was free to make its own arguments.


“I will be fighting for everything Queensland deserves,” he said.

But Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said One Nation had been caught out “trying to rip off Queenslanders with voodoo economics”.

“One Nation’s GST proposal would mean less money for our roads, hospitals and schools,” he said.

“It would mean higher taxes.

“You can’t represent Queenslanders when you want to rip away their GST — it’s disgraceful.”
Treasurer Scott Morrison tasked the Productivity Commission with the inquiry in April after continuing calls by WA MPs that the current system is treating their state unfairly.


Both Labor and the LNP oppose any move to change the current system, which recognises the difficulty of funding services across such a decentralised state.

Matt Canavan listed on Registry of Italians Residing Abroad

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/matt-canavan-listed-on-registry-of-italians-residing-abroad/news-story/7bedeaefd01ae599b04074e9b02ebe24

Matthew Killoran, The Courier-Mail
July 27, 2017 12:00am

SENATOR Matt Canavan has been listed on the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad and Italian voting forms were automatically sent to him at his mother’s address for the past 10 years.

But the rising LNP star, who resigned from Cabinet on Tuesday due to the dual citizenship scandal, yesterday reiterated he has never received or even viewed a ballot.

Senator Canavan this week revealed his mother, also born in Australia but of Italian descent, had signed him up for Italian ­citizenship. Under the Constitution a person who holds dual citizenship is ineligible for Parliament.

Senator Canavan’s father Brian at his Brisbane home yesterday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Senator Matt Canavan has blamed his mother for making him an Italian citizen without his knowledge. Picture: AAP/Sonia Kohlbacher

He said she made the application in 2006 when she herself applied for citizenship, but without his consent or knowledge while he was aged 25.

Senator Canavan’s parents kept a low profile yesterday. His father appeared at the door of their Brisbane home, but declined to comment.

The validity of the citizenship will be tested in the High Court – and there is potential precedent to suggest a person must “accept or acquiesce” to foreign citizenship to be ruled ineligible.

People listed on the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad are automatically sent voting forms for elections. It is understood the forms were sent to his mother’s address.

The most recent Italian election was held in February 2013 and prior to that in 2008 and 2006.

A spokesman for Senator Canavan said he had not voted in an Italian election and had never received or viewed any ballot papers.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce yesterday said Senator Canavan had discussed Italian citizenship with his mother in 2005, but had never signed any form.

“Senator Canavan has stated to me that he did not complete any forms so it was a discussion the family had and he thought that’s where it’s rested,” he said.

“From what has been conveyed to me, he had no interest in becoming an Italian citizen.”

Mr Joyce said it was “an incredibly difficult time” for Senator Canavan’s mother and she would be “at her wits’ end”.

Greens leader Richard di Natale has said Senator Canavan should follow Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlum, also caught up in dual citizenship matters, and resign from the Senate.

Mr Joyce said Senator Canavan was not resigning from the Senate.

“We don’t even know at this stage whether there was a valid registration in Italy,” he said.

Government sources have continued talking up Senator Canavan’s chances of beating a Constitution challenge to his eligibility.

The matter will have to be referred to the High Court by the Senate, which does not sit again until August 8.

It is understood Senator Canavan is not able to be represented by the Solicitor-­General and will have to seek his own representation.

All sweet in sugar wars as combatants trade hectoring for harmony

Greg Beashel, managing director and chief executive of Queensland Sugar Limited.The Australian

12:00AM March 4, 2017

• Sarah Elks

  

  Queensland political reporter

  Brisbane

  @sarahelks

Sweet relief is just weeks away for Queensland’s sugar industry, with warring miller Wilmar and marketer Queensland Sugar Limited reaching in-principle agreement.

The months-long stoush has caused political pain for state and federal conservatives, with rebel federal Liberal National Party MP George Christensen threatening to quit the party over the impasse.

After 11 hours of state government-funded mediation in Brisbane on Thursday, QSL and Singapore-owned Wilmar announced yesterday they had reached a “high level agreement” about QSL buying Wilmar’s raw sugar.

“While QSL welcomes this long overdue development, there is still a lot of work to be done before a detailed contract is secured and Wilmar growers can begin to access QSL marketing and pricing services for the 2017 season and beyond,” QSL managing director Greg Beashel said.

The Weekend Australian understands teams of lawyers for both sides are negotiating the wording of a written agreement, expected within weeks.

This week, the LNP state opposition failed to push through Queensland’s hung parliament a bill to compel both parties to enter formal arbitration to solve the dispute. The attempted legislative intervention came after the LNP voted with Katter’s Australian Party crossbenchers in 2015 to partially re-regulate the sugar ­industry, at the urging of canegrowers.

Thursday’s mediation was run by retired Supreme Court judge Richard Chesterman, appointed by the state government.

Growers sell cane to millers, such as Wilmar, which manufacture raw sugar. The price growers are paid is based on the price for which Wilmar sells the raw sugar.

The sugar can either be sold through the miller, or historic sugar marketer QSL. Wilmar has already negotiated cane supply agreements with growers. The contract being negotiated with QSL is the on-supply agreement.

Annastacia Palaszczuk: How I’ll counter One Nation

Sarah Vogler, The Courier-Mail
February 12, 2017 11:36am

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says her government’s push to spend more time in the regions “listening and delivering” will help counter the rising political threat of One Nation.

Ms Palaszczuk this morning responded to an Galaxy poll conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail which found one in four Queenslanders intended to vote for One Nation at the next State Election, due later this year.

More than one in three believed it would be good for One Nation to hold the balance of power in the next parliament.

Ms Palaszczuk backed her government’s decision to bring back compulsory preferential voting despite One Nation’s resurgence.

“I don’t because when we come to the election there will be a clear choice and that choice is a stable Labor Government led by me, a Premier who listens, a Premier who understands the concerns of Queensland families and delivering or the alternative is a One Nation/ LNP coalition led by Tim Nicholls.

“I don’t think the people of Queensland want that disruption to Queensland.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she believed her government was demonstrating it was listening.

“I have been extensively travelling across this state since returning back from leave. I have been out there listening but there’s one thing I want to say to the people of Queensland and that is not only am I listening but my government is also delivering,” she said.

“We know that the people in the regions are doing it tough and that is why I am out there constantly talking to the people in the regions, listening to the people in the regions and making sure that we deliver programs and projects that can create jobs.”

Ms Palaszczuk pointed to the planned overhaul of trading hours as one example of a job-creation policy.

“What I will continue to do is listen and deliver.”

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has refused to be drawn on whether he will consider doing a deal with One Nation to form government if support for the far-right party in recent opinion polls is replicated at the ballot box at the looming state election.

Mr Nicholls said he understood voters were “mad as hell” after a Galaxy poll conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail found 23 per cent of voters intended to choose One Nation.

But he insisted he was in the next election to win it outright and would not rule in or out a potential deal with One Nation should the party win enough seats to hold the balance of power.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk rules out governing deal with One Nation

Sarah Vogler, The Courier-Mail
February 4, 2017 12:00am

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk would rather relegate Labor to the wilderness of Opposition than share power with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation after the next election.

In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with The Courier-Mail on the second anniversary of her election win, Ms Palaszczuk said she was focused on gaining a ­majority at the next election, which could be held later this year.

But if not, she ruled out a governing deal with One Nation. Labor has already signalled its intention to put One Nation last on ballot papers.

“I’m not having a coalition with them. I am firmly focused on a majority government and there will be no coalition with One Nation,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I think the people are going to start seeing the LNP and One Nation as one and the same.”

Labor has been pressuring the LNP to declare its hand on a preference deal with One Nation after a deal was struck between the WA Liberals and the minor party. Many in Labor fear the move to compulsory preferential voting could backfire on them following the rise of One Nation.

Ms Palaszczuk, who has spent more time in regional Queensland than the southeast since returning from leave last month, says her Government will continue its focus on job-creation policies this year with her aim to have an unemployment rate with five in front of it.

She said she and her ministers would continue to fan out across the regions for the rest of the term.

“What I am firmly hearing from the people in the southeast is that they understand,” Ms Palaszczuk, who was speaking in Rockhampton where she governed for the week, said.

“They stop me in the street and they say ‘we see you in regional Queensland and they are doing it tough so it’s good that your there listening and helping them’.”

Ms Palaszczuk formed minority government with the help of Independent MP Peter Wellington following a stunning electoral comeback in 2015.

She said she believed the Government’s work was bearing fruit.

“Over the last two years I think we have clearly shown the people of Queensland that we are a stable government,” she said.

“That we have a clear vision for growing the state and that the economy is turning the corner.”

The Premier pointed to the mid-year fiscal and economic review handed down by Treasurer Curtis Pitt last year and the $2 billion operating surplus contained within it as an example of that.

She said one of the Government’s back to work policies had created 1200 jobs so far.

That regional focus is also designed to help Labor head off a resurgent One Nation hoping to win a slew of seats at the state election.

Ms Palaszczuk has dismissed suggestions she is concerned by the minor party’s popularity which she said was born out of a wave of dissatisfaction sweeping not just Queensland but the world.

But she said she believed it was possible to counter that movement.

“I think the issue there is that you will always have people who may feel dissatisfied or may feel they want to protest about a particular issue,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“My job is clearly to demonstrate to people where we are delivering services and where we are creating jobs.

“We are yet to see anything tangible that One Nation is delivering.”

Complaint to Crime and Corruption Commission Qld over alleged councillor domestic violence data leak

Tom Snowdon, The Courier-Mail

February 5, 2017 12:00am
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/complaint-to-crime-and-corruption-commission-qld-over-alleged-councillor-domestic-violence-data-leak/news-story/adb48cf44c28101d24b61c8db92cdf71

ACCUSATION DENIED: Logan City Council’s Darren Power is holding a sign during a 2015 council-led walk against domestic violence.

A Queensland councillor is accused of giving a One Nation staffer who has had domestic violence concerns raised about him confidential information about his ex.

Logan City Council’s Darren Power has been referred to the state’s corruption watchdog following a conversation in which he was allegedly told about steps council had taken to protect One Nation policy adviser Sean Black’s former partner.


A complaint filed with the Crime and Corruption Commission alleges Cr Power may have relayed those steps to Mr Black – a former Logan City councillor who now works for One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts – during a subsequent conversation with him.

Cr Power strongly denies ever even being told about the protective measures, let alone passing them on to Mr Black.

He said in a text message to The Sunday Mail he thought the CCC complaint was part of a wider political game to punish him for speaking out about a contentious development on a koala habitat in his division.

“This sounds like a political payback for my opposition to the Carbrook development, or do they think I am running for One Nation?” Cr Power said.


It is understood the police, Local Government Minister Jackie Trad and Domestic Violence Minister Shannon Fentiman have all been made aware of the complaint.

The CCC refused to confirm a complaint had been received. But a spokeswoman for Logan Mayor Luke Smith declined to comment because of the “involvement” of the CCC.

Mr Black, despite repeated approaches, made no comment for this story but stopped it running in last week’s Sunday Mail by applying for an eleventh-hour injunction that prevented its ­publication.


Those orders were revoked during a closed court application hearing on Monday in Brisbane’s Supreme Court.

Cr Power, according to a document obtained by The Sunday Mail, was called into Mayor Smith’s office in December for a conversation about the domestic violence concerns against Mr Black.

“I found this unusual as Cr Smith and I have a difficult relationship and we rarely talk in private,” Cr Power writes in the document, dated January 22 this year, which was given to Mr Black.

“Cr Smith then told me that he had heard that Sean Black has a habit of domestic violence, that he ‘bashed his former wife’ and that ‘it was just a matter of time before it catches up with him and that the papers are aware’, and that ‘is (sic) all about to explode’ in the media.”


The long-time councillor, who has been repeatedly elected since 1997, claimed he believed Cr Smith had heard this information ­directly from Mr Black’s former partner:

"Cr Smith led me to believe that the story that was about to break in the paper would ‘mean Sean Black would be one of the most politically maligned individuals in Australia’,” the document says. It was supplied to the CCC as part of the complaint.

Mr Black, who was once banned from attending meetings without security guards amid bullying allegations, was elected as a Logan councillor in 2008 before he left in 2012 to return to the property industry.


He has previously said the ban was an attempt to silence him for his part in an unsuccessful coup against the former deputy mayor.

Third Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party hopeful rages at gay ‘bigots’

One Nation has refused to say whether Tracey Bell-Henselin – a former Rise Up Australia candidate in last year’s federal election – would be disciplined or disendorsed over her comments. Picture: Annette Dew

Anthony Templeton, Kieran Rooney, The Courier-Mail
January 11, 2017 1:03pm
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/third-pauline-hansons-one-nation-party-hopeful-rages-at-gay-bigots/news-story/9d6af1c3bc77c6175fff4a7e543fcfbe

UPDATE: Senator Pauline Hanson has backed One Nation’s Glasshouse candidate, Tracey Bell-Henselin, who posted controversial remarks online claiming the gay community wanted “to destroy families”.

But Senator Hanson, during an interview in Townsville today, claimed Ms Bell-Henselin’s comments were not anti-gay and she would remain as the party’s candidate for the Sunshine Coast-based seat.

“I think you had better go and read that in full context with regards to her work ... those were not homophobic comments at all,” she said.

“That was totally taken out of context and I’m quite happy with her comments she won’t be disendorsed at all.”

EARLIER:

A third One Nation candidate could find herself in hot water after posting homophobic remarks, saying the gay and lesbian people want “to destroy families”.

The party’s candidate for the seat of Glasshouse, Tracey Bell-Henselin, posted several anti-gay comments on her personal Facebook page in recent months, and claims the LGBTI community is “the real manipulating bigot”.

“LGBTI is out to destroy families as we know (them) and have lived for generations producing babies/growing a family produced by a mother & father – creation!!!,” she wrote in one of her posts.

“But now when we stand up on the side of the law to protect our family and children we gave birth to – we are told to shut up that we (are) bigots & homophobic – labelled, cursed sworn at!!!”

Ms Bell-Henselin refused to return calls yesterday, but did send a text message saying she would only respond to The Courier-Mail’s questions if leading party figures were present.

“I will only talk to you with Pauline and James Ashby present as One Nation is a team,” she said in the message.

One Nation has refused to say whether Ms Bell-Henselin – a former Rise Up Australia candidate in last year’s federal election – would be disciplined or disendorsed over her comments.

The revelations come after One Nation’s Bundamba candidate Shan Ju Lin was axed over the weekend for homophobic posts. The party’s former Currumbin candidate Andy Semple was disendorsed last month after he posted an offensive Tweet joking about the LGBTI community.

One Nation executive member and Pauline Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby said he was unaware of Ms Bell-Henselin’s homophobic social media posts until he was contacted by The Courier-Mail. Mr Ashby refused to comment but confirmed the party would look into the matter.

Acting Communities Minister Kate Jones said Ms Bell-Henselin’s comments were divisive and should not be tolerated.

“We don’t want 2017 to be dominated by Queenslanders running down other Queenslanders,” she said.

“Clearly, Pauline Hanson and her party should take action against this candidate.

Embattled Health Minister Sussan Ley apologises for apartment splurge

Annika Smethurst, National politics reporter, Herald Sun
January 8, 2017 3:37pm

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/embattled-health-minister-sussan-ley-apologises-for-apartment-splurge/news-story/2f8e51855174151cd95588a97cbcb060

EMBATTLED Health Minister Sussan Ley has apologised for an “error of judgment” and agreed to pay back money owed to the public for a taxpayer-funded trip she took to the Gold Coast where she bought a lavish apartment.

Ms Ley has also asked the Finance Department to review all her ministerial travel to the Gold Coast which the Herald Sun can reveal, cost taxpayers more than $40,000 in the past three years.

Government documents show the NSW MP took at least 18 trips to the Gold Coast, where she owns property and her partner runs a bin cleaning business, between 2013 and 2016.

The Herald Sun attempted to cross reference these trips with Ms Ley’s ministerial duties — public appearances, media events, speeches and meetings — but could not find evidence of any “official business” on nine occasions.

Those trips alone cost taxpayers more than $20,000.

But a spokesman for Ms Ley said that the Minister travels extensively across Australia and undertakes “extensive meetings with doctors, patients and other organisations that are not media or public events”.

He said just because there is no statement, such as a media release or speech on the public record, it doesn’t mean there is no justification for the travel to the meeting.

Health Minister Sussan Ley is under fire for buying a $795,000 Gold Coast unit in this Main Beach tower. Picture: AAP

In a statement, Ms Ley said she spoke to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who agreed that claiming costs during a 2015 trip when she purchased a property “does not meet the high standards he expects of Ministers”.

“I apologise for the error of judgment”, she said.

As a shadow minister in March 2013, Ms Ley spent four nights on the Gold Coast at a cost of $3352. The following month Ms Ley again flew to the Gold Coast from Albury with a family member billing taxpayers for taxis, car hire and chauffeur driven cars totalling $3594.

A month later, Ms Ley again returned to the Gold Coast for “official business” on May 30 with a family member claiming $2907 in flights and travel allowance costs.

Other questionable Gold Coast trips include a four night stay in July 2014 when taxpayers paid $4388 in travel costs for her and a family member and a weekend stay in September 2014 totalling more than $2000.

Health Minister Sussan Ley responds during Question Time. Picture: Ray Strange.

The latest revelations come just days after the Herald Sun revealed Ms Ley bought a $795,000 apartment at Main Beach during a taxpayer-funded work trip in 2015.

Ms Ley said she made the impromptu property purchase while at Main Beach for confidential health discussions with stakeholders who she is refusing to name.

Opposition Health spokeswoman Catherine King again called for her resignation saying there was no credible explanation for taxpayer-funded trip to the Gold Coast on weekends and holidays.

“These revelations make it crystal clear that Malcolm Turnbull must sack Sussan Ley,” Ms King said.

“As a Minister and Shadow Minister, Ley has charged taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for trips to the Gold Coast — where she owns a home and her partner owns a business.”

“Ley has violated every tenet of Malcolm Turnbull’s own ministerial standards. Either she must walk or Mr Turnbull must push her.”

annika.smethurst@news.com.au

@annikasmethurst