Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm ‘knew before she did not know’ about shareholding

A Queensland LNP frontbencher who claimed she was ‘not aware’ of holding shares in a family consultancy company had publicly disclosed them years earlier, historic documents reveal.

Queensland Shadow Minister for Child Protection Amanda Camm. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

An Opposition frontbencher who claimed she was ‘not aware’ of holding shares in a family consultancy company had publicly disclosed them years earlier, historic documents reveal.

First-term Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm was caught this week failing to declare a shareholding in her husband’s consultancy company, Strategic Direction Performance.

Ms Camm told parliament the company she had an interest in was not declared on her register of interests.

“I was not aware of this. I should have been and I apologise,” she said.

“These entities have not transacted since 2019 as part of a wind-down process. They hold no assets and transact no business.”

However, a register of interests signed by Ms Camm during her time as Mackay Regional Council’s Deputy Mayor declares the company shares.

The document, tabled by Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles, revealed Ms Camm was aware of and declared the shares as recently as December 2018.

“I can advise the House that, despite what the member has said, it appears she did know she owned shares in Strategic Direction Performance,” Mr Miles said.

“When she was deputy mayor of Mackay where she very clearly says that she has a shareholding in Strategic Direction Performance — the same company she now says she did not know she had shares in.

“Before she did not know, she did know.”

Mr Miles said he would write to the Clerk “about these inconsistencies”.

Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls said under parliament rules, MPs were encouraged to publicly acknowledge and resolve any inaccuracy on their register of interests.

“She shouldn’t be castigated, she should be applauded,” Mr Nicholls said.

Ms Camm was elected to parliament in October after defeating LNP-turned independent MP Jason Costigan.