Queensland’s deputy premier has unleashed an extraordinary spray in state parliament, raising unfounded rumours about several Labor MPs, including claims of a secret relationship.
The use of parliamentary privilege by Jarrod Bleijie to make the accusations was rejected as sexist by one of the MPs accused, who denied the claim she had been in a relationship with a colleague.
In parliament, Mr Bleijie also threatened to out private intimate matters relating to several other opposition members.
The attack was an attempt by the state government to turn the tables on Labor, after more than a week of scrutiny on ministerial lovers Tim Mander and Amanda Camm.
Qld ministers clarify relationship
The pair have faced questions over whether they made the appropriate declarations as ministers of their relationship and potential conflicts of interest.
Mr Bleijie claimed the opposition had set a new standard in its criticism of ministers.
He set his sights on former corrective services minister Nikki Boyd and Bundaberg MP Tom Smith on the floor of state parliament.
Tom Smith has denied the deputy premier’s claims. (ABC Wide Bay: Johanna Marie)
“Who would forget the rumours going round between the member for Pine Rivers and the member for Bundaberg, in an alleged relationship when the member for Pine Rivers was a minister, did they disclose that publicly?,” Mr Bleijie said.
“Is it true? Did they get [a] conflict of interest management plan? Did they get Integrity Commissioner advice? This is the new standard.”
Asked outside of parliament if he would repeat the allegation, Mr Bleijie did not respond.
Parliamentary privilege protects members from being sued for statements made in parliament.
Claims of sexism
Nikki Boyd said the remarks by the deputy premier were disappointing.
Outside the House, Ms Boyd said the allegations were untrue and claimed the deputy premier’s behaviour was sexist.
“I think it’s pretty disappointing, and it demonstrates that the LNP have a women problem,” she said.
“To be able to go into the parliament and throw around allegations like that, I think it’s pretty serious and frankly, pretty disgusting.”
She questioned why, “if there was any basis” to the allegations, it had been brought up now using parliamentary privilege.
Mr Smith, speaking outside parliament, said if there was any truth to Mr Bleijie’s comments, he would’ve raised it when Labor was in government.
“It’s a new low for this parliament. It’s a new low for the deputy premier to put out baseless lies in response to his government’s integrity crisis,” he said.
Mr Bleijie in parliament threatened to make further allegations about members’ relationships, including some relating to shadow treasurer Shannon Fentiman.
Parliament ‘not Sin City’
Queensland University of Technology adjunct professor Dr John Mickel said some of the behaviour was “quite low ball”, and that Queenslanders were worse for it.
“It is the parliament of Queensland. It’s not Sin City,” he said.
“The loser today is the people of Queensland, because I don’t think their issues were being ventilated.”
John Mickel said some of the behaviour was ‘quite low ball’. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)
The former speaker of Queensland parliament and Labor MP said there was a loss of faith in institutions worldwide, which was only exacerbated by poor standards.
“The whole idea of parliament is coming together to discuss the issues of the day,” he said.
“When people see parliament failing in that, then the institution of parliament is held in low regard.”