Labor’s Peter Russo faces new allegations amid calls for LNP’s David Crisafulli to face probe

Embattled Labor MP Peter Russo is facing new claims of breaching Parliament rules as the Palaszczuk Government fires back, accusing a prominent LNP frontbencher of a “flagrant and deliberate failure” to disclose a business he owns.

SENIOR Palaszczuk Government MP Peter Russo has been accused breaching Parliament’s rules by voting on legislation impacting Legal Aid without declaring his legal firm profited from working for the taxpayer-funded body.

The Opposition yesterday claimed Mr Russo also had a responsibility to reveal his firm was on Legal Aid’s preferred supplier panel before he quizzed the body’s boss at this year’s Budget estimates hearings.

The allegations come after Clerk of Parliament Neil Laurie warned Mr Russo this week there may be conflicts between his role as Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee chair and his firm’s Legal Aid work which would require him to declare his interest.

The Opposition was last night considering referring Mr Russo to Parliament’s powerful Ethics Committee over the allegations which have dominated this week’s sittings.

Toohey MP Peter Russo speaks during question time at Queensland Parliament in Brisbane on Tuesday. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

It came as the Government wrote to Mr Laurie seeking to have Opposition frontbencher David Crisafulli referred to the bipartisan committee for belatedly declaring a company he set up in April on the Register of Members’ Interests.

Quizzed by the Opposition in Parliament, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk repeated defended Mr Russo while insisting any accusations against him should be directed to the proper channels.

“The Member for Toohey stood in this house and made a very comprehensive explanation yesterday,” she said.

“Once again, those opposite want to come in and use smear and innuendo.

“If they have concerns about the standing orders of this house, it is a matter to be referred to the Speaker.”

LNP frontbehcner David Crisafulli. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

Company searches show Mr Crisafulli established Revalot Pty Ltd on April 2 but did not reveal it until the end of August, well outside the month-long declaration deadline.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath accused Mr Crisafulli of a “flagrant and deliberate failure”.

Mr Crisafulli said the company was a super fund set up to purchase a cane farm adjoining his parents’ property and they were declared together once the settlement occurred.

“I only wish the ALP could transfer its resources from its dirt unit looking at my interest in agriculture to the dry dirt crippling the majority of our primary producers,” he said.