Billy Gordon child support payment saga could spark Queensland general election

POWERFUL crossbencher Billy Gordon owes at least $34,000 in child support payments to two different women a year after promising to deal with the debts.

There are allegations MP Billy Gordon owes thousands in child support payments to two different women. Picture: Annette Dew

• BILLY GORDON: Allegations MP owes taxes, child support

POWERFUL crossbencher Billy Gordon owes at least $34,000 in child support payments to two different women a year after promising to deal with the debts.

As the trouble-prone MP defended claims that he hadn’t paid a $16,020 bill owed to the mother of two of his children or lodged a tax return since 2014, The Courier-Mail can reveal a second debt of $18,370 to another woman.

The ex-partner complained more than a year ago when Mr Gordon first promised to deal with his child support arrears, but the latest Register of Members’ Interests on November 24 records the amount as still owing.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday left her Housing Minister Mick De Brenni to answer questions about the former Labor MP’s conduct as Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls slammed her for “relying on his vote to stay in power”.

“If Annastacia Palaszczuk is as concerned as she claims about standards and behaviour she would refuse his vote,” Mr Nicholls said.

Sean Leahy’s take on the Billy Gordon saga.

The new details come as Mr Gordon refused to answer questions about child support and tax matters, instead insisting claims were “inaccurate”.

In a statement, the Cook MP said he had “moved immediately to rectify my taxation matters” after an address to Parliament in March 2015 that is now the subject of a Speaker’s investigation into whether he misled the House.

Leader of the Opposition Tim Nicholls. Picture: Jono Searle.

“This has been a long, complex process. I am satisfied with my progress’’, he said. He said he was being attacked for political reasons but was co-operating with the investigation about whether he committed contempt of Parliament by saying he had ensured outstanding payments had been made.

Such a finding could see him ejected in what would be a crisis scenario for the Government that would likely spark a general election.

Mr Gordon said yesterday he was making regulated fortnightly payments to the Child Support Agency.

But he refused repeated requests to respond to claims he was still in arrears and allegations he had not updated his taxable income from $74,000 so correct assessments of how much he owed could be made.

Mr Gordon is paid a base salary of $155,621 and has a $42,000 annual car allowance.

Mr De Brenni, who was forced to take questions while announcing homelessness funding, said the allegations would be “very, very disappointing” if true. ‘‘If they are substantiated, I think people have a reason to be disappointed,” he said.

Mr De Brenni said Labor was “ready to stand on our record” if the matter did lead to a general election.

Ms Palaszczuk told Parliament in March 2015 she was “absolutely furious” about Mr Gordon’s child support and tax situations and expected high standards because “integrity and accountability” were “cornerstone principles” of her Government.