Des Houghton: Prominent female LNP member claims she was filmed from behind, blowtorch back on Miles government

Just weeks after a leaked photo saw Steven Miles accused of being a liar in parliament, a recent ’voyeur’ scandal is set to reignite, writes Des Houghton.

LNP MP Deb Frecklington was allegedly filmed covertly by a Labor staffer. Picture: iStock

Despite Labor’s best efforts to contain the photographed text message spy case in which Steven Miles was accused of being a liar in parliament, the so-called “voyeur” scandal is set to reignite.

This is because a second case in which it will be claimed a female MP was filmed from behind without her consent will be aired in parliament when the House resumes sittings in three weeks. She is a prominent LNP member.

In the first case Miles was accused of lying to parliament and forced to apologise about a text message he sent to Labor backbencher Ali King. The Premier admitted he misled the House but said he did so inadvertently.

Premier Steven Miles.

“I was alerted when the photo taken in this House was broadcast on Channel 9 news last night,” Miles said. “As soon as I saw that, I realised that I had erred.”

Miles had earlier in parliament denied that he sent a text message to fellow King during a parliamentary sitting last year asking her to rise and apologise for telling prospective Queensland Health employees to send their resumes directly to her.

The case was cracked open after a question without notice from Michael Hart, the Member of Burleigh Heads.

Ali King in parliament.

Misleading parliament is a serious allegation that invariably warrants a referral and an investigation by the Parliamentary Ethics Committee. Unbelievably, Miles somehow escaped referral after a spiteful smokescreen debate where Labor speakers pushed the allegations against Miles aside while they condemned the LNP for invading King’s privacy.

LNP Member for Coomera Michael Crandon admitted he took the picture and apologised to King for what he says was a “snap decision” to take a photo of her phone after she received a text message from the Premier in the House last year.

Now the LNP alleges that Shadow Minister for Energy Deb Frecklington was filmed covertly by a Miles staff member as she walked barefooted to the door of the Legislative Assembly. It seemed innocent enough. And few knew the offending video was recorded in a restricted security zone where cameras are forbidden.

The Opposition claims Deb Frecklington was filmed covertly by a Miles staff member. Picture: Richard Walker

The CCTV security footage now in the hands of the Clerk of parliament, Neil Laurie, clearly identifies the ALP staff member.

Frecklington was wearing black shoes that day but took them off and carried them after the heel on the left shoe broke, an LNP source said.

Frecklington aired some details herself when she rose to address Speaker Curtis Pitt on a matter of privilege during the last session.

“It has been brought to my attention that mobile phone footage was taken of me from behind without my knowledge, “she told the House.

“It was filmed at parliament in our workplace and was provided to media without my knowledge or consent and posted online.

“I have seen the footage and understand it to be a member of the Labor government staff.

“I believe the action demonstrates a contempt in line with your recent referrals. I will be writing to you and ask that this matter be referred to the Ethics Committee for investigation.”

The episode has left Labor’s virtue signallers in an awkward place, and it will be interesting to see how they attempt to wriggle out of it.

After referring Crandon to the Ethics Committee, the black shoe “scandal” (if it is a real scandal) will be embarrassing for Labor. And Mr Speaker will be tearing his hair wondering how he can avoid referring a fellow ALP colleague to the Ethics Committee lest he is accused of bias.

The LNP went on the attack in parliamentary question time over two days in early March in the Ali King case. It refused to accept the Premier’s apology.

Miles hit back: “I say in Women’s Week all the boys over there have is this celebration of the invasion of the member for Pumicestone’s privacy, this celebration of the harassment of women at work.

“They know no bounds when it comes to celebrating the mistreatment of women at work and indeed here in the parliament.”

Shannon Fentiman, the Field Marshal of the sisterhood and the Minister for Women was vociferous in her attack in the LNP.

“The voyeurs in their caucus to leer over the shoulders of women in this place and take photos of them without their consent,” she said.

Fentiman now faces a test of character. Surely it is the duty of the Minister for Women to condemn the premier’s office and back Frecklington’s call for an Ethics Committee investigation.