EXPRESS The
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Locally owned and proudly independent
Will Billy resign?
By Carl Portella
The recently elected Member for Cook, Billy Gordon, wasn’t a household name before the state election on January 31; but now it seems everyone in the state knows who Billy Gordon is, but for all the wrong reasons. Events unfolded on the morning of Friday March 27, at Parliament House in Brisbane, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk received a letter from Mr Gordon’s former partner accusing him of failing to lodge tax returns in order to escape child support payments. The letter was also sent to a number of ministers including: Housing and Public Works Minister, Leanne Enoch and Communities, Women, Youth and Child Safety Minister, Shannon Fentiman. In parliament the Member for Cook said: “I bear full responsibility for my actions; unfortunately, the relationship did not end on a positive note. “It was an extremely upsetting period after which I independently sought counselling. “As a result, I have moved to immediately rectify my tax affairs; and I have also ensured that any outstanding child support payments have been made to my ex-partner, so that I can put this issue beyond doubt.
“It upsets me to stand in this house and divulge details of such a personal nature to members. I am a proud father; it is the most important job I will ever do. “I am also extremely humbled to be representing the good people of the great electorate of Cook.” On Friday evening, allegations deepened, after it was made public on cairnsnow.com website that Mr. Gordon had been abusive towards his former partner. In light of these allegations,Premier Palaszczuk, who holds a minority government with the support of independent Peter Wellington, asked Police Commissioner Ian Stewart to investigate the matter. The State Opposition has called on the Premier to release all correspondence from her office relating to serious allegations against the Member for Cook to provide a full explanation of the circumstances. Deputy Premier John-Paul Langbroek said the curious handling of the issue raised even more concern. “From what the government has said so far, the Premier’s first move was to run off to the union bosses at Labor Headquarters and wipe her hands of the problem,” he said. “This is not just about the character of the Member for Cook, but also the credibility of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.” Mr Langbroek said regardless of what decision the Premier made about the future of the Member for Cook, serious questions needed to be asked about what really happened. “Queenslanders deserve to know exactly what has happened behind the scenes.” The question being asked by The Express Facebook friends is: Why was all this not picked up before the election on January 31? Why not indeed. Questions also need to be asked as to why Mr Gordon was not properly investigated in Labor’s pre-selection process to ascertain as to whether or not he was a suitable candidate. Premier Palaszczuk should also come under scrutiny for not raising the abuse allegations in parliament on Friday, knowing full well the contents of the letter which she received on March 18; and only sending the case to the police commissioner after the allegations were made public. At a noon press conference on Sunday March 29, the Premier said: “Today I am prepared to put my premiership on the line. “This is a very serious issue. I spoke to the Member for
Cook. I told him very clearly that today I would be writing to the state secretary to expel him from the state Labor party. “Secondly, I told the Member for Cook he would not be sitting with the state Labor parliamentary team. I also told the Member for Cook, in the best interests of the party, in the best interests of the parliament and in the best interests of Queensland, he should resign as a member of parliament and that his position was untenable.” She added Mr Gordon had let her down, the party down and the government down and this was one of the hardest calls she has had to make. “I am shocked, appalled and I feel sick in the stomach,” Premier Palaszczuk said. “There will be a thorough review of the pre-selection process.” This came hours after Mr Gordon apologized to the people of Cook and made a full confession about his criminal past in a message to his Facebook friends. Part of the statement read: “My contact with the criminal justice system has included: Breaking entering and stealing in 1987 in Innisfail, breaking and entering with intent, attempted breaking and entering and stealing in 1990 in Atherton, breach of probation in 1992 in Atherton, public nuisance in 1996 in Normanton, breach of bail conditions in 1999 (stemming from not attending a court summons from the 1996 incident). In addition I have twice had my driver’s license suspended for unlicensed driving (2004 and 2008). Finally, in 2008, I was served with an (AVO) Apprehended Violence Order as a result of a complaint by my mother.” In further developments later that evening, Mr Gordon took to Facebook stating: “I am presently weighing up my options after the advice I have received from the Premier that she has asked for my expulsion from the Labor Party. “I am very concerned that I should be afforded natural justice in any determination that my tenure as the Member for Cook should be terminated because of her move to see me expelled from the Labor Party and her wish for me to resign as a Member of Parliament. “Any other attempt to remove me from the Parliament and force me to resign is a denial of natural justice.” Queenslanders are in for an interesting time in state politics in the coming weeks, the decision voters await now is: Will Mr Gordon resign? Mr Gordon concluded by stating he will make no further media comment until his decision has been finalised.
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