More allegations raised against LNP MP Driscoll

More allegations raised against LNP MP Driscoll

By Melinda Howells and Chris O’Brien, ABCUpdated March 18, 2013, 7:57 pm

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Queensland’s Liberal National Party is facing more allegations of misconduct, with first-term MP Scott Driscoll accused of using public money to pay his wife’s consultancy firm.

The Member for Redcliffe says he will seek a meeting with the state’s integrity commissioner to discuss allegations against him.

Mr Driscoll has previously denied claims of financial mismanagement in his former role with a retail lobby group.

Now he is accused of controlling a local community group that has paid consulting fees to his wife out of public funding.

Premier Campbell Newman has repeatedly said he has confidence in Mr Driscoll, despite the claims of impropriety.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has called on Mr Newman to refer allegations against Mr Driscoll to the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC).

“About mates being appointed to the board, about public money going to his wife – how his wife came to be employed in the organisation when apparently she had, and I quote, ‘nil qualifications’,” she said.

“There are so many questions here that need to be answered.”

She says the allegations have also been referred to the police commissioner and the auditor-general.

“This is now a scandal engulfing the Premier,” she said.

“We also have a Member for Redcliffe hiding and not answering any questions in relations to this.”

Coordinated campaign

However, Mr Driscoll says the allegations are part of a coordinated campaign against him and his family.

The first-term MP says he will seek a meeting with the integrity commissioner so there can be an unbiased assessment of the matters.

Mr Driscoll says he has complete faith that he will be found to have done nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, the Redcliffe community group at the centre of the claims has rejected claims that consultancy fees were paid out of public money.

Lawyers for the Regional Community Association Moreton Bay have also rejected suggestions the board has not acted independently.

Earlier today senior government minister Mark McArdle said his LNP colleague needed to make a statement.

“I think that Mr Driscoll has to clear the air very quickly,” he said.

“If there’s evidence here of any misconduct, put it to the CMC and have it investigated properly.
“I think we’re now in the position where to let it go on is not in the interest of anybody.”