Griffith MP Terri Butler forced to go into self-isolation

A Brisbane MP has been forced to leave Parliament House in Canberra and go into isolation after she revealed she was “one step removed” from someone who was at a contact tracing site.

A QUEENSLAND MP has had to leave Parliament and go into self-isolation in Canberra, while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.

Labor’s Griffith MP Terri Butler revealed she was taking the steps, out of an abundance of caution.

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“I’ve learned that I’m one step removed from someone who was at a contact tracing site last week,” she said.

“To be cautious I have left the parliament and have had a COVID test. I’m self-isolating while I wait for the result.”

It follows Queensland barring the ACT as a COVID-hotspot, despite the state having no active cases for over a month.

Griffith MP Terri Butler has been forced to go into self-isolation. Picture: AAP/Glenn Hunt

There is a smaller sitting of Parliament this week, with some MPs, particularly from Queensland and Victoria, granted leave to participate via video link due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Courier-Mail survey of all Queensland MPs and senators found 24 of them, including 16 from the LNP, seven from Labor and independent Bob Katter, were scheduled to attend at least some of the upcoming parliamentary fortnight in person.

But 14 others are part of the first group of politicians to log in remotely, under rules agreed to late last week.

Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters was the first politician to take part in a debate in the Senate chamber via video link, making history.