Sacked Liberal MP Sam Duluk attends Tony Abbott book launch at Tomich Winery on Parliament sitting day
Besieged MP Sam Duluk has attended a winery for former prime minister Tony Abbott’s book launch – on the same day State Parliament was sitting.
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Sacked Liberal MP Sam Duluk has turned up at a winery for former prime minister Tony Abbott’s book launch in Adelaide, new pictures reveal.
Mr Duluk was last week sacked from Premier Steven Marshall’s Liberal party room after allegations of slapping SA Best MP Connie Bonaros on the bottom, making a homophobic comment and a racist remark.
The Member for Waite suspended his membership of the Liberal Party on Friday, following revelations he had been reported by police for basic assault.
He is also not attending State Parliament while the police investigation is going.
On Wednesday night, Mr Duluk attended former prime minister Tony Abbott’s book launch at Tomich Wines in Unley.
None of the pictures, which appeared on a Watching Waite Facebook page, showed Mr Duluk with alcohol and there is no suggestion that he was drinking.
After allegations of the bum slap emerged, Mr Duluk told The Advertiser he was seeking help for issues with alcohol.
BREAKING Speaker Tarzia commits to fully cooperate with the @SAPoliceNews investigation into @SamDuluk. He has practically waived privilege on all the collected evidence & witness statements by his private investigator.
— Tom Koutsantonis MP (@TKoutsantonisMP) February 20, 2020
But the appearance has raised questions about what work Mr Duluk is doing while he is on self-exile from State Parliament.
The Advertiser has sought comment from Mr Duluk.
Opposition government accountability spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said the people of Waite deserve an MP who is turning up to Parliament to work for them.
“Suspended Liberal MP Sam Duluk is still being paid $16,000 per month by the taxpayer,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
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“(But) he’s not turning up to Parliament and instead he’s rubbing shoulders with Tony Abbott and other Liberals at Tomich Wines on a day when Parliament is sitting.
“Skipping Parliament to avoid scrutiny is bad enough, but skipping Parliament and then attending a Liberal event at Tomich Wines is a betrayal of the people of Waite.
“Steven Marshall says Sam Duluk is a suspended Liberal MP, yet he’s still a welcome guest at a Liberal event for Liberal supporters celebrating former Liberal PM Tony Abbott.
“Sam Duluk has said he is on a “journey of recovery” in relation to problems with alcohol, yet it appears that journey has taken him to Tomich Wines.”