Police drop unlicensed driving case against Broadwater MP Verity Barton due to ‘lack of evidence’

MP Verity Barton was investigated for unlicensed driving for one day and now the matter has been dropped completely due to a “lack of evidence”.

Member for Broadwater Verity Barton will not face police charges for unlicensed driving. Picture: Regi Varghese

POLICE will not charge Broadwater MP Verity Barton with unlicensed driving, claiming there is not enough evidence to pursue the matter.

They have also refused to explain why a relatively simple charge was transferred to Brisbane, will not say who made that decision and have spoken cryptically about there being a “conflict of interest” involving local officers.

RELATED: MP HAD THIRD LICENSE SUSPENSION

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Ms Barton was forced to release a statement during last month’s election campaign, admitting to driving unlicensed in 2012 and 2013 after an “oversight” when she didn’t pay road tolls and fines.

But there was no mention of a third, 11-day suspension from December 6, 2014.

Member for Broadwater Verity Barton will not face police charges for unlicensed driving. Picture: Regi Varghese

Police this week said the December suspension formed part of their investigation, which had “been finalised”.

A police media response said the investigation had been transferred because of the election, but did not specify who had made the decision.

“Given the matter involved a member of parliament and its proximity to the election it was considered appropriate that a commissioned officer from Road Policing Command take charge of the investigation,” the statement said.

“To do otherwise would have potentially exposed local officers to claims of a conflict of interest.”

The Bulletin asked on Tuesday who had considered the transfer appropriate and which officers were at risk of what conflict of interest claims.

Yesterday another response said “the centralised RPC is the chain of command for road policing officers throughout the state”.

Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller said this week the matter would be full investigated by the QPS but police have said the investigation is over.

“The decision in no way reflects on the professionalism of Gold Coast-based officers from RPC. “It was simply a precautionary measure designed to protect them from any possible conflict of interest claims from any sector of the community given it was in the context of an election campaign.”

During the campaign, legal experts said it was “unusual” for a simple unlicensed driving matter to be moved to Brisbane, and Premier Campbell Newman denied any government involvement.

New Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller this week said the matter would be fully investigated by QPS, independently of government.

A day later, police said the investigation was over.

Ms Barton this week said she did not know about the December suspension until police contacted her in January. But the suspension was lifted on December 16, indicating somebody paid the fine.

She could not remember whether or not she had driven during the most recent suspension, claiming she thought she’d taken a taxi or been dropped off.