North Queensland MP Stephen Andrew forced to apologise as guests go through desks in parliamentary chamber

A Queensland One Nation MP has been forced to apologise after guests he brought into parliament were caught going through members' desks in the Chamber. QUESTION TIME BLOG

The member for the north Queensland seat of Marini Stephen Andrew.

VISITORS who One Nation MP Stephen Andrew brought into Parliament were caught going through members' desks in the Chamber.

 

Mr Andrew was forced to apologise to the House this morning following the incident on Saturday, October 19.

Speaker Curtis Pitt said it wasn't the first time he'd written to the Mirani MP about the behaviour of guests he had responsibility for. 

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Mr Pitt said parliamentary security had provided him footage of the One Nation MP and a group of visitors from late Saturday night. 

He said the footage indicated several of the visitors interfered with desks in the chamber by opening the compartments under desks where members store personal belongings. 

The footage indicated that at times, Mr Andrew was standing next to the visitors.

At the time, a security officer told them to leave. 

Mr Andrew apologised unreservedly to the House.

"I have always endeavored to ensure school groups and the public are given access to the parliament I am proud to speak about the rich history and cultural heritage this parliament comprises," he said.

"I acknowledge that members have the right to privacy.

"I must take responsibility for this. 

"Violation of a member's privacy is a grave matter."

Mr Pitt said he had suspended Mr Andrew's privileges to bring visitors to Parliament for six months. 

Leader of the House Yvette D’Ath asked Mr Pitt if the members whose desks were disturbed would be told.

He told the House they would be.

 

“That will absolutely happen,” the Speaker told the House. 

 

He said steps were taken to ensure no items were removed or disturbed. 

Mr Andrew says the 14 people who he brought into Parliament on Saturday night were his friends.

He said he'd been "down the road" beforehand, and that the group "had a couple bottles of wine", however there was "actually half a bottle still left over".

"It was only a short little stint through the place (parliament)," he said. 

The incident followed One Nation's AGM in Brisbane earlier that day, which Mr Andrew had been at. 

However he wasn't able to say how many of the people who accompanied him into parliament had been at the event. 

The Mirani MP said when he saw someone touching a desk, he told them to stop. 

"It's unacceptable behaviour," he said. 

"It was probably a sad thing that got away on me, I had my back turned, things get away.

"The odd times that we (regional MPs) come down here (parliament), we had a two week back-to-back sitting.

"It's a long time for regional member to be away from his family.

"We are entitled to friends.

"We are entitled to bring people to the people's house."

Traeger MP Robbie Katter said he couldn't care less while the LNP's Steve Minnikin said the issue had been dealt with "very promptly, very professionally" by Speaker Curtis Pitt earlier today.