The Prime Minister’s top Indigenous adviser Warren Mundine has called on embattled Far North Queensland politician Billy Gordon to resign from Parliament.
Mr Gordon left the Labor Party earlier this week after his extensive criminal history came to light. It has put Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s minority government on shaky political ground, with only a narrow claim to power in the state.
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In a statement, Mr Gordon said his criminal history dated back to 1987. It included a number of break-and-enter offences, losing his licence twice and being served with an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) in 2008 by his mother, after communicating with his mother “in a manner she found threatening”. Mr Gordon has also faced recent domestic violence allegations, claims which he denies.
Warren Mundine said the issue was being politicised in Queensland and there should be zero-tolerance for allegations or charges of domestic abuse.
“Get this through your thick skulls: One woman a week is murdered through domestic violence,” said Warren Mundine. “For every one that’s murdered, you can probably count another hundred who suffer physical and mental abuse.”
In his Facebook statement, Mr Gordon said he was served an AVO but it did not form part of his criminal record. “My mother has confirmed to me that there were no allegations of physical violence made with respect to this incident.”
Queensland police are investigating the domestic violence allegations.
“None of it was raised, he kept it from the public and, therefore, he doesn’t deserve his seat in parliament.”
Mr Mundine said the voters of Cook should have the final say on Billy Gordon’s future. “They now know the allegations so he should resign and stand again, and then there’s full disclosure and full opportunity for the voters of Cook to make a decision on it.”
But he said he personally believed Mr Gordon should leave politics. “None of it was [the allegations made against him were] raised, he kept it from the public and, therefore, he doesn’t deserve his seat in parliament.”
Billy Gordon told the Western Cape Bulletin newspaper he would not quit Parliament but he would take time to consider his future.
Warren Mundine, also a former national President of the Labor Party, said his views were his own and he had not discussed them with the Indigenous Advisory Council.
A second woman has contacted the QLD Premier’s office to accuse another MP about domestic violence.
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