Annastacia Palaszczuk

[Black Orchid]

The Queensland Premier could be referred to the state's crime and corruption watchdog over her decision to strip five staff from the Katter's Australian Party.

Annastacia Palaszczuk announced she would axe the extra positions granted to the KAP last term, after the party refused to denounce the contentious maiden speech of its federal senator Fraser Anning.

KAP state leader Robbie Katter said he had sought legal advice on whether the Premier had breached the criminal code by unduly influencing a member of parliament.

"That has very serious criminal elements [and] implications to it," Mr Katter said.

"She said it in Parliament that unless you change your position on this issue, I'll remove those resources."

Section 60 of the Queensland Criminal Code — which regards bribery of a member of parliament — states a person is not allowed "directly or indirectly, by fraud, or by threats or intimidation of any kind, to influence a member of the Legislative Assembly in the member's vote, opinion, judgment, or action."

Mr Katter said he had sought legal advice from the Clerk of Parliament and others, and may refer the Premier to the Crime and Corruption Commission.

"We're currently taking advice and we feel there's very strong grounds there to proceed," he said.

"It seems pretty cut and dry from our point of view.

"She's bowed over to some internal party interests and the LNP's pressure, and rolled over and taken the easy road out, so I think it reflects very poorly on her and I think she's put herself in a very precarious position legally now that we'll be pursuing."

The controversy between the Government and KAP erupted when Senator Anning used his maiden speech to call for a complete overhaul of the immigration system, insisting most migrants should be from a European Christian background and all Muslims should be banned.

In that speech, he also used the phrase "final solution", the same phrase used by the Nazis under Adolf Hitler, meaning annihilating Jewish people from Europe.

Ms Palaszczuk had called upon KAP to denounce Senator Anning or face losing the five extra discretionary staff, including two electorate positions, granted to the state party last term during the hung parliament.

"Because his party will not denounce senator Fraser Anning, I denounce his party," she told the Labor State Conference on Sunday.
Earlier, the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties accused the Premier of acting in the same manner as controversial politician Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Civil Liberties Council Vice-President Terry O'Gorman said the Premier's decision was anti-democratic and should be reversed.

Senator Fraser Anning said the "final solution" to what he called the problem of migration by Muslims was a national vote.

"She said, 'Senator Anning gave an appalling speech and while there is freedom of speech, there are consequences'," Mr O'Gorman said.

Mr O'Gorman said Ms Palaszczuk's actions contradicted recommendations of the 1989 Fitzgerald Inquiry report into corruption in Queensland.

"In that report, Commissioner Fitzgerald reviewed the history of the then Labor opposition complaints that the then Bjelke-Petersen government kept taking resources from the Labor opposition so they couldn't do their job," he said.

"And what do we now have? We have a Labor Government doing the same thing.

"It is fundamentally wrong and we call on the Premier to immediately reverse her decision."

What a thug this Palaszczuk is. I hope there are grounds to prosecute her!

The future of immigration, Muslim or otherwise, SHOULD be a national vote and on that I fully concur with Anning!!

[Black Orchid]

We have Anna (alphabet) in Queensland taking unlawful actions, Gladys (alphabet) in NSW turning Sydney into a high rise immigrant slum and Daniel Andrews (at least I can spell his name) in Victoria condoning and excusing ethnic violence.

The whole eastern seaboard is doomed!

[Outlaw Yogi]

Annastacia Palayzuk [apparently pronounced "Palazhay" is a corrupt dingbat ... and a fat 'n ugly dingbat at that.

Gladys Berigiwhatever it is [no idea how it's pronounced] appears to be a token wench to comply with PC agendas ... and a phuken ugly token wench at that.

Daniel Andrews is implementing policies that could only come from a card carrying commy ... and I gather the dorky look is to conform with left wing geekness.

[Rorschach]

This was a beat-up from the start.
Anning never invoked the FINAL SOLUTION at all.
I hope Robbie Katter bores it right up them they have no right and are totally wrong in this action.
But hey progs do whatever they want these days.

[Rorschach]

Staff cuts spat: KAP refers Queensland premier to corruption commission

ByJared Owens,

Annastacia Palaszczuk has been referred to Queensland’s corruption watchdog by three MPs who accused the Premier of attempting to extort them into condemning senator Fraser Anning’s racially divisive comments.

The Premier on Sunday announced she would revoke her order funding KAP’s four additional staff after its three MPs refused to condemn their senator’s call for a “final solution” referendum on restoring the White Australia policy.

“Because his party will not denounce him, I denounce his party and I withdraw the additional staff I granted to the Katter’s Australian Party,” she told Labor’s State Conference.

The additional positions were granted at the Premier’s discretion during the hung parliament of 2015 to 2017, when the party’s votes were needed to secure the passage of Labor legislation.

Appealing to the Crime and Corruption Commission, the minor party claimed Ms Palaszczuk acted illegally by linking the resources to the MPs’ actions in parliament, asking Crime and Corruption Commission to investigate the affair.

The party pointed to the bribery provisions of Queensland’s criminal code, which make it unlawful “by threats or intimidation of any kind, to influence” an MP “in the member’s vote, opinion, judgment or action”.

The extortion provisions also prevent anyone from intentionally threatening to “cause a detriment” to someone else, KAP said, and it is also illegal to hinder or interfere with “the free exercise of any political right”.

Ms Palaszczuk’s spokeswoman said: “The Premier acted within the guidelines for providing additional resources for crossbench MPs.”

Civil Liberties Council vice-president Terry O’Gorman said Ms Palaszczuk’s actions contradicted recommendations of the landmark 1989 Fitzgerald Inquiry report into corruption in Queensland.

“Fitzgerald reviewed the history of the then Labor opposition complaints that the then Bjelke-Petersen government kept taking resources from the Labor opposition so they couldn’t do their job,” he told the ABC.

“And what do we now have? We have a Labor Government doing the same thing.”

KAP’s argument, if accepted by the CCC, could reshape politics in Queensland. MPs frequently vote in parliament under threat of demotion or disendorsement if they buck their party whips.

Although KAP has not sought formal legal advice, it is understood they have consulted informally with lawyers.

[Black Orchid]

I hope she is brought to her knees. What she did was just plain wrong. Some women are complaining about being bullied in parliament then we have people like her who are prime bullies.

[The Mechanic]

she's a dirty Commie...

[sprintcyclist]

she's a dirty Commie...

Yup

[The Mechanic]

she's a dirty Commie...

Yup

how on earth did anyone vote for that thing.. I mean... seriously..

were they all drunk??

[LEFTWINGER supreme]

Increased majority as well