Aboriginal MP Billy Gordon has spoken out against the “dirty, grotty” campaign by a “desperate” Liberal National Party (LNP), after he was cleared of domestic violence allegations.
According to the Cairns Post, police will not be pressing charges against the North Queensland politician following a three-month investigation.
Mr Gordon resigned from the state Labor party in March after making history as one of only three Aboriginal MPs to be elected to Queensland’s Parliament.
It followed allegations of domestic violence made by his former partner, which he denied at the time. It was also revealed Mr Gordon had failed to disclose his criminal history to the party, including break and enter offences committed when he was a teenager. He was under no legal obligation to disclose the charges.
There were also allegations that Mr Gordon had failed to lodge tax returns and dodged child support payments.
Newly-minted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was quick to respond to the allegations, saying Mr Gordon had let her, the party, and Queensland down.
In the midst of a police investigation, Mr Gordon publicly stated he hoped he would be afforded “natural justice” and opted to remain in Parliament as an Independent.
It was later revealed that his LNP opponent for Cook, David Kempton, had assisted Mr Gordon’s former partner in revealing the allegations, as well as federal LNP Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch. The allegations were made public on a website linked to former LNP Cook MP Gavin King.
Today, Mr Gordon told the Cairns Post that he had never perpetuated domestic violence in the relationship and condemned the “dirty” political tactics that forced his resignation from the Labor party.
“It’s the ultimate baptism of fire,” he told the Cairns Post.
“This was never about domestic violence … it’s been a dirty, grotty (campaign) and it was a convenient political tool that people decided to use.
“We’ve got the leader of the Opposition (Lawrence Springborg) that’s failed three or four times to become Premier of this state, I think there’s a degree of desperation there and malice, that’s almost institutionalised in the LNP.”
Mr Gordon is now focused on his family, although he has not had contact with his 11-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter from the relationship, he told the Cairns Post.
“I haven’t seen the kids since it’s blown up, but I know they love me and I love them,” he said.
He told the Cairns Post he was now focused on his electorate.
Gordon represents the sprawling electorate of Cook, which takes in Cairns, Cape York and the Torres Strait – which has a sizable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
He is the second Aboriginal MP to hold the seat, following in the footsteps of Eric Deeral in the 70s.
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