Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch lobs ‘spear chuckers’ barb at Labor following questions into perceived conflicts of interest emerge

A Far North MP has defended his decision not to declare a perceived conflict of interest after his wife was employed to run workshops for businesses that had previously received Federal government funds.

Yolonde and Warren Entsch at the annual Aussie Locums Blue Tie Gala Ball – a fundraiser for Moyamoya Australia. Mr Entsch has accused the Labor Party of attacking his wife’s work with organisations that have previously received government funding. Picture: Sandhya Ram

A bitter feud has erupted between a Far North MP and “Labor Party spear chuckers” following a story published by the public broadcaster into workshops and programs his wife ran in 2016 and 2019.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch defended his decision not to declare a perceived conflict of interest after an ABC story revealed his partner had been employed by businesses that had previously received Federal government funds.

Yolonde Entsch, who will contest the seat of Cairns as an LNP candidate in October’s state elections, has worked as a private contractor for training provider My Pathway and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre.

Ms Entsch declined the Cairns Post’s requests for comment but her husband said the “attack” was politically motivated.

“Clearly after the last polling, Yolonde looks like she’s a chance of winning Cairns and suddenly this gets dredged up again,” Mr Entsch said.

“We need good representation. I think it’s unfair on her that when grumps see her doing well they try to take her down.

“It’s good to see that the professional Labor Party spear chuckers are at it again.”

It’s understood Ms Entsch, a former Citizen of the Year who was recognised for her work with vulnerable women and disadvantaged communities, provided face-painting and “character building workshops” for children in the Torres Strait and the Northern Territory in 2019 for My Pathway.

Mr Entsch announced the company, alongside Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council (GBK council) would partner in a $5m seawall building project in April that year.

But the Federal MP said there was no connection between the announcement and his partner’s work.

“Yes, I did lobby for the money and I did announce it but there’s no relation,” Mr Entsch said.

“She was a private contractor. They approached her and asked her to do specific projects for them and it was brilliant.

“I had no idea she was working with My Pathway at the time. She’s entitled to work independently and build her own profile.

“It was because she did so well that she received these opportunities.

“She has her own mind and brain and she can do things and I’m incredibly proud of her.”

The RRRC received a $1.8m government grant in 2014 for the Building Resilience in Treaty Villages program.

As part of the initiative Ms Entsch reportedly received $40,000 to procure reusable menstrual pads for disadvantaged women in remote areas of Papua New Guinea.

Deputy Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie said any criticism of Ms Entsch’s community work was unwarranted.

“The Labor party were very happy to stand next to her and thank her for the wonderful job she’s done in protecting the most disadvantaged in our communities and all of a sudden they’ve started a gutter campaign against her,” Mr Bleijie said.

“This is the Labor party attacking a hard working woman rather than looking at the priorities for Queenslanders.”

The Wheels of Wellness CEO, which provides healthcare to the homeless, will be looking to unseat incumbent Member for Cairns Michael Healy at the state election later this year.

Mr Healy was named Tourism and Sport Minister following Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s resignation late last year.

Originally published as Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch lobs ‘spear chuckers’ barb at Labor following questions into perceived conflicts of interest emerge