LNP accuses premier of Gordon 'cover up'

Qld opposition leader Lawrence Springborg has accused the premier of casting a gloss over abuse allegations levelled at a Labor MP.

LNP accuses premier of Gordon 'cover up'

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with the Labor caucus before the first session of the new Queensland Parliament, at Parliament House, Brisbane, Tuesday, March 24, 2015.

Queensland's opposition leader Lawrence Springborg has accused Annastacia Palaszczuk of trying to cover up criminal allegations levelled at one of her MPs.

Ms Palaszczuk referred the allegations concerning member for Cook Billy Gordon to Police Commissioner Ian Stewart late on Friday afternoon.

Queensland police have confirmed the premier has referred an allegation of domestic violence to them.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Gordon admitted he had not paid child support payments to his ex-partner, but the abuse allegations are more serious.

Mr Springborg has accused the premier of casting a "gloss" over the allegations by suggesting in parliament on Friday the matter was resolved.

But by that evening, it was "a totally different story", he claims.

"What changed in the intervening eight hours, was that the media found out that there were other issues - issues that the premier was very much aware of," he said on Saturday.

"The simple question today (for) the premier is did she actually ask the member for Cook about these issues of domestic abuse?" he said.

"I think what we see here is a cover up."

In a letter to Ian Stewart dated March 27, Ms Palaszczuk says her office received a letter outlining allegations against the newly elected member for Cook.

These were immediately referred to Labor state secretary Evan Moorhead, who in turn encouraged her to make a complaint about the alleged conduct to the police, she wrote.

"Since that time, details of the allegations have been made public," Ms Palaszczuk wrote.

"In light of this fact, I feel it is now incumbent on me to refer the matters to the Queensland Police Service."

The matter has serious implications for the fledgling Labor government, which holds 44 seats in the 89-seat parliament and needs the support of Mr Gordon to govern.

If Mr Gordon steps aside while police investigate the allegations, Labor won't have enough seats to govern.

Ms Palaszczuk could also remove Mr Gordon or he could resign, but that would leave the premier in the same predicament.

If Mr Gordon resigns, but continues in his seat as an independent, the government will need the support of an independent cross-bencher.

Speaker Peter Wellington said speculation the scandal could eventually tip the government's narrow numbers were premature.

"I don't see it leading to that at this stage," the Nicklin independent told AAP.

Mr Wellington has previously stressed his allegiance to Labor is conditional on there being no illegal activity and no allegations of corruption against the party's MPs.

He said while serious, it was important to remember the current accusations against Mr Gordon had not been substantiated yet.

"Certainly serious allegations have been raised but at this stage I don't see that as being a trigger to lead to me withdrawing my support for the premier."


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Source: AAP


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