Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn rookie. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn rookie. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng

Thứ Tư, 20 tháng 3, 2013

I didn't lie to Qld parliament: rookie MP

A ROOKIE Queensland MP has denied he lied to parliament over extra phone lines installed in his electorate office.

The Courier-Mail newspaper published private emails between Redcliffe MP Scott Driscoll and his wife, Emma, saying they proved he was using the phone line to run a retail association he used to head.

Mr Driscoll had told parliament on Tuesday the phone line was installed as part of a "community hub" where local groups could access wi-fi and communication services.

The besieged MP reiterated the point again in parliament on Thursday.

"I most certainly have not lied to parliament and I find such a claim to be contemptuous and disgraceful," he said.

Mr Driscoll said the "sensational" article was false.

"My wife's terminology in private emails to me is not relevant to my actions as an MP," he told parliament.

"I welcome any legitimate scrutiny of my work as the member for Redcliffe."

Mr Driscoll said he suspected the allegations against him stemmed from people who were "jealous" of him winning a seat in parliament.

The first-term MP has been forced to defend himself against a raft of allegations in recent weeks, including claims of sexual harassment, financial mismanagement and improper business dealings.

Mr Driscoll said he'd done nothing wrong other than failing to declare that his wife received more than $500 in income from a private company she runs, an error he would rectify.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) is investigating some of the allegations levelled against him.


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Thứ Hai, 18 tháng 3, 2013

"I did nothing wrong": rookie Qld MP

A QUEENSLAND MP is facing claims he used his electorate office as a secret base to direct the operations of a retail lobby group.

The Courier-Mail says Scott Driscoll installed dedicated phone lines and computer equipment in his electorate office last year.

The newspaper says staff used the equipment to conduct the business of the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association, which has been paying Mr Driscoll's wife's company $350,000 a year for management services.

It's the latest in a string of allegations levelled against the rookie Redcliffe MP, who has denied any wrongdoing.

He says a run of recent allegations are part of "a co-ordinated campaign" against him and his family.

He is seeking an independent assessment of claims by Integrity Commissioner David Solomon.

Mr Driscoll last month told the media he'd had "no operational involvement" in the QRTSA since he was elected to parliament.

But on Tuesday, The Courier-Mail said it had seen emails and other correspondence that show he has overseen all of the QRTSA's operations.

It said Mr Driscoll, and his former electorate officer Ben Scott, had signatory powers over the group's bank accounts until three weeks ago.

AAP has sought comment from Mr Driscoll.

On Monday, Premier Campbell Newman said Mr Driscoll should be given a "fair go" and he'd not yet seen anything that would disqualify him from parliament.

He said allegations were being looked at and it was appropriate for Mr Driscoll to talk to Dr Solomon.

The Courier-Mail has also reported Mr Driscoll had been secretly controlling a taxpayer-funded community association helping the homeless and others in need.

It claims he'd been funnelling tens of thousands of dollars in consultancy fees to his wife's company Norsefire.

But the group named in those claims, the Regional Community Association of Moreton Bay, denies consultancy fees were paid out of public money.


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