Palaszczuk delayed casting the rogue MP aside, page-2

  1. 7,659 Posts.
    Billy Gordon faces second domestic violence claim. UPDATE: What did Labor know?
    How long has Labor known?

    THE former Labor state government was aware of ousted Cook MP Billy Gordon’s criminal past – but employed him anyway.

    The Courier-Mail has obtained a rap sheet detailing Mr Gordon’s extensive criminal history, which was received by the Department of Communities in 2008…

    Mr Gordon’s criminal past was sought after he applied for a position within the Department’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships division during the Bligh government. It is understood Mr Gordon was approved for a position in Mount Isa and worked there for several years despite serious reservations within the department.

    Yet twice pre-selected by Labor:

    DAVID LEWIS, REPORTER: ... Billy Gordon slipped through the net twice. He was also Labor’s candidate for the electorate of Leichhardt in the 2013 federal election.

    KEVIN RUDD, THEN PRIME MINISTER (2013): This is a seriously good bloke!

    Why did the Speaker not act?:

    SPEAKER Peter Wellington told the woman at the centre of the Billy Gordon abuse scandal that he was too “busy” with Parliament to deal with her complaint.

    The Courier-Mail can reveal embattled Cook MP Mr Gordon’s ex-partner turned to Mr Wellington on March 24 for help after her pleas to other politicians for assistance fell on deaf ears.

    Her letter included the statement which had been given to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office six days earlier…
    Mr Wellington wrote back two days later on March 26, the day a confidence motion in the Palaszczuk Government was debated in Parliament, saying the woman had to be patient…

    The revelation comes as Mr Wellington continued to staunchly defend the Premier’s handling of the scandal.

    What did Labor Senator Jan McLucas know about Billy Gordon?:

    Cairns-based Senator Jan McLucas failed to refer abuse allegations made by the former partner of Billy Gordon to police and ignored her pleas for help after receiving a signed statement up to 14 days before it was first made public on Cairns Now.

    Cairns Now spoke to Mr Gordon’s former partner yesterday, who said she is devastated she did not receive a reply to her statement and pleas for assistance, or acknowledgement of her contact with the Senator’s office.

    The question of what Senator McLucas knew - and when - on top of her failure to take any action, is expected to bring forward her decision to retire and not seek pre-selection as the Labor Party looks to finalise its ticket by May. Comment is currently being sought from the Senator…

    All starting to smell like Labor’s defense of Craig Thomson. Power over principle.

    Last edited by jitttlatw07: 31/03/15
 
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