Queensland MP Warren Entsch referred to corruption watchdog

Liberal MP Warren Entsch has been referred to the corruption watchdog following revelations he assisted a billionaire to be given fast-track access to a vaccine alongside Torres Strait Islanders.

An incident involving federal Queensland MP Warren Entsch has been referred to the corruption watchdog following revelations he organised a billionaire LNP donor to be given fast-track access to a vaccine alongside Torres Strait Islanders.

The Australian reported on the weekend the Liberal Member for Leichhardt had assisted Soviet-born property developer Alex Sekler to jump the queue and receive the Pfizer jab on Thursday Island.

The billionaire, who previously donated $304,000 to the LNP, was 65 at the time, meaning he was directed by health authorities to be allocated an AstraZeneca jab.

But he travelled to the remote Indigenous community in July 2021 to receive his preferred Pfizer dosage, which was in short supply at the time.

A Queensland Health spokesperson confirmed to The Courier-Mail it had “referred the matter pertaining to the health service” to the Crime and Corruption Commission but the Cairns-based MP “unequivocally” denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Entsch has denied any wrongdoing. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

In a statement to The Courier-Mail, Mr Entsch said “it should be known that the vaccine was accessible to anyone in the Torres Strait region at that time”.

“My role was merely to facilitate information, a service I routinely and regularly provide to all my constituents,” Mr Entsch said.

“I was advised that anyone who presented to the Thursday Island hospital would readily receive the vaccine.

“I had also heard that there was ample supply at the hospital during this time and in fact some of the vaccine stock was even reaching the end of its shelf life. I rang the hospital and this was confirmed to me.”

But Deputy Premier Steven Miles blasted Mr Entsch’s actions as “shameful”, who he accused of “effectively taking that vaccine away from a vulnerable indigenous Australian”.

“It might not seem like much in hindsight, but if you think back to how hard it was to get vaccines at that time and how we were desperately trying to make sure we got the right vaccine, particularly into our remote indigenous communities,” Mr Miles said.

“I think is pretty shameful.

“As far as I understand, no laws were broken, but the story is quite incredible – you’ve got a Russian billionaire who gave $300,000 to the LNP, being flown into the Torres Strait to take a vaccine that was meant to go to a Torres Strait Island resident of Thursday Island.”

Alex Sekler alongside his partner Violetta at the announcement of a donation. Picture: Stewart McLean

Mr Entsch, who is married to the LNP candidate for the state seat of Cairns, denied any wrongdoing and insisted his relationship with the donor “is not transactional or influenced by such contributions”.

“It is disappointing to see inferences being made against Mr Sekler for his interest in politics, as well as the grubby attacks that have been made against his cultural heritage.

“It is sad that Mr. Sekler’s much greater contributions to the community through his philanthropic donations fail to garner the same level of interest from the media.

“With regards to Deputy Premier Steven Miles’ comments, this is a typical political response from someone who clearly has no understanding of the facts and the circumstances.

“Over time, I have come to expect less and less from the Deputy Premier — so, I treat his comments with the contempt they deserve.”

Mr Enstch denied that there was a “quid pro quo” arrangement with the billionaire, whom Mr Entsch described as “a fine gentleman”.

He said Mr Sekler had been approached by health authorities in the Torres Strait about donating an MRI machine to Thursday Island Hospital.

“That is the reason why he approached me and wanted to know about the protocols about travelling up to the Torres Strait,” Mr Entsch said in Parliament on Monday.

“He mentioned to me he was interested in getting... I think it was the Moderna (vaccine).

“I rang the hospital and asked them if it was available, they said yes. I said what are the protocols. They said, if you present, we’ve got plenty of it. We’ve got quite a bit that’s going out of date.”

It was in response to federal Health Minister Mark Butler who said in parliament there were a range of concerns, including that at that time Mr Sekler was not eligible for Pfizer and that travel to vulnerable First Nations’ communities was discouraged.

“The Member’s constituents will draw their own conclusions about those elements of this story,” Mr Butler said.

“The Member has serious questions to answer about his actions at a time when his own government was so focused on protecting vulnerable communities... and when other Australians were expected to queue patiently for short-dose vaccines, and not to charter a private plane to fly to a Thursday Island community to access one of theirs.”