Craig Kelly won’t sack chief of staff Frank Zumbo over sex charges

The independent MP for Hughes says his embattled chief of staff is innocent until proven guilty and will continue to work for him.

Independent federal MP Craig Kelly has declared that he will not sack his embattled chief of staff Frank Zumbo, who was sensationally charged last week with a number of sexual offences against three women and a teenage girl.

Speaking to Outsiders on Sky News Australia on Sunday morning, Mr Kelly, who quit the Coalition in February to represent his seat of Hughes from the crossbench, said Mr Zumbo was entitled to the presumption of innocence and that he did not deserve to lose his job.

Craig Kelly spoke to Sky News Australia’s Outsiders about the fate of his aide Frank Zumbo, who has been charged with a number of sexual offences.

“In the Australia that I live in, just because someone has allegations against them, doesn’t mean they are sacked,” Mr Kelly said.

“That may apply to multi-millionaire sports people on a contract … but it shouldn’t apply to the average citizen that they lose their job because of an allegation.”

“Mr Zumbo obviously will take some time off to defend this matter (but) I’m not going to throw aside the principles that I believe in the presumption of innocence, for some short term political expedience.”

“Just because someone has had allegations made against them does not mean they are guilty … and Mr Zumbo, like every single other Australian, deserves to have his day in court,” Mr Kelly said.

Frank Zumbo leaving Surry Hills police centre on Saturday after being granted bail on historical sex offence charges. Picture: Damian Shaw

Mr Zumbo is accused of indecently assaulting four women between the ages of 16 and 27 between 2014 and 2020 — charges he strenuously denies.

He was released on bail on Saturday after spending a night in police cells.

His lawyer, Michael Moussa, said that the prosecution had “a very weak case,” adding, “Mr Zumbo has denied the allegations since the inception of these matters.”

Mr Kelly also told the program that he was determined to bring legislation before the parliament in the next sitting fortnight to ban “vaccine passports” or “vaccine certificates” to prevent Australians being forced to prove their Covid vaccination status, calling the vaccine program a “medical experiment.”

Mr Zumbo’s matter is next in court on June 16.

Originally published as Craig Kelly won’t sack chief of staff Frank Zumbo over sex charges