Qld LNP questions 'strange' MP probe

The Queensland opposition says the government needs to explain why an MP was not interviewed by detectives looking into forgery and harassment allegations.

Queensland MP Rick Williams says he never doubted he would be cleared of forgery and harassment allegations following a 12-month police investigation which has left the opposition unsatisfied.

The Pumicestone MP was accused of trying to hire someone to have his ex-wife's boyfriend "done over", business impropriety and sexually harassing a teenager.

The Queensland Police Service on Monday announced there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations.

Aspects of the matter had also been referred for independent legal opinion, which will not be made public.

Mr Williams has expressed relief and revealed he was never interviewed by detectives.

"Had I been (interviewed), I would have evidence to dispute everything that was said," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the investigation was "very rigorous".

Mr Williams was stood aside from a committee overseeing law and order amid the investigation, but Mr Pitt said any future positions offered to him were a matter for the Premier and Caucus.

The Treasurer said he had not seen anything to suggest Mr Williams wouldn't be Labor's candidate for Pumicestone at the next election, but side-stepped a question about whether he would support the pre-selection.

"I'm not a member of any of his branches to support him, so the question is irrelevant," Mr Pitt said.

Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker called for a better explanation of the process, including the "alarming" revelation that Mr Williams was not questioned.

"There's something strange about this," Mr Walker said.

"The people of Queensland deserve to know much more than they've been told."

But he quickly backed away from inferences of a cover-up.

Mr Walker was pressed throughout his repetitive 15-minute media conference on why it was the government's responsibility to explain a police investigation.

"Because the police are part of the executive arm of government," he said.

"The executive arm of government deserves to explain to the people of Queensland what's gone on here."

When asked how the government could do so without breaching the separation of powers, he replied: "That's for the government to determine."

He added: "They can explain to the people of Queensland, taking such advice as they need, how we've got to this point."

Mr Walker said the length of the investigation and the government's commitment to transparency meant more information was required.

He said he was not alleging interference from the Labor party but the matter was high-profile and involved an MP who "effectively holds the balance of power" in the tightly-balanced parliament.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said calling for the public release of documents from the investigation was completely inappropriate.

"Any criticism of that process ... sends a message that the LNP does not trust the police in the role they've undertaken," she said.

"And that is disgusting."


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3 min read
Published 31 May 2016 5:04pm
Source: AAP


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