Queensland's besieged Labor government has issued a last-ditch call for MPs to come clean while influential Liberal National Party members deny conspiring to bring them down.
As outcast MP Billy Gordon staunchly denied he would quit parliament over failing to reveal a criminal past, questions are now being asked about criminal allegations made about two other government figures.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt has called for full disclosure from all Labor politicians as the party's hold on power continues to slip.
"I'm confident we have a good group of people but of course we need to be sure that they are telling us their full stories, and I think that would go for the opposition as well," Mr Pitt told reporters.
The current crisis and Mr Pitt's statement indicates Labor's vetting system is far from adequate.
Mr Gordon resigned from Labor on Monday over domestic violence allegations made by his former partner and his undisclosed criminal record.
Domestic violence claims by a second woman against Mr Gordon have also been referred to police by the premier.
But the Cape York-based MP has categorically denied the accusations and on Wednesday refused to give into "unethical" demands by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, LNP leader Lawrence Springborg and others to stand down.
"They can't offer inducements or intimidate me," Mr Gordon told the Western Cape Bulletin.
Ms Palaszczuk has since referred domestic violence claims against another unnamed member of the government to police, while the spotlight has also been shone on the conduct of Pumicestone MP Rick Williams during a 2009 financial dispute.
But the crisis hasn't just tainted Labor, fingers are now being pointed at LNP figures in far north Queensland.
David Kempton, the LNP member who lost the seat of Cook to Mr Gordon, reportedly helped his rival's ex-partner make a complaint about unpaid child support in the days after the January 31 election.
The Australian has reported federal MP Warren Entsch and former state MP Gavin King, who also lost his seat this year, also had extensive contact with the woman.
Both Ms Palaszczuk and Mr Springborg refused to speak to the media on Wednesday.
But Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the LNP was conspiring to use the woman to play a "political wrecking game".
"The LNP's dirt machine is in overdrive," she said. "They're working to destabilise this government and destabilise this parliament."
Mr Kempton is yet to respond to AAP's requests for comment.
But Mr King and Mr Entsch have told AAP they are offended by any suggestion they had used the woman as part of a plot to rob Labor of power.
Speaker Peter Wellington said The Australian's report, if factual, supported his suggestions there were behind-the-scenes efforts to unseat the government.
"There is no such thing as a coincidence in politics. It does not happen," he said.
"What it shows to me is that there was an attempt to try to discredit me as Speaker and bring down this government."
Share
