Mundingburra MP Les Walker apologises, blames staff after ‘tribute’ to fallen cops slammed

A trouble-prone Labor MP has apologised and blamed his staff after a ‘tribute’ to honour fallen police backfired.

A trouble-prone state Labor MP left a book entitled ‘Forensics for Dummies’ as a tribute at a Police Remembrance Day service honouring fallen officers.

But Les Walker, who represents the electorate of Mundingburra, has insisted he was unaware what the book was when he left the tribute – suggesting it had been selected and wrapped in advance by his staff.

Sources have told The Courier-Mail that officers were “p***ed off”, appalled and angered by the incident at the Police Remembrance Day service in Townsville on September 29.

Mr Walker said he had already called Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler to “sincerely apologise” for the stuff up, as well as the acting assistant commissioner and the acting deputy superintendent.

Forensics For Dummies (2nd Edition) by Douglas P Lyle, MD.

“The staff buy all the books in bulk in my office for all sorts of remembrance days and events for schools,” Mr Walker said.

“They select the two books, wrap them, they hand them to me to go to the events and I present books at all of my events because they go into school libraries.”

Mr Walker said the ‘Forensics for Dummies’ book had been wrapped in brown paper with a blue ribbon.

“It was left with all where we present the flowers and books and gifts up on the day,” he said.

Asked why he did not ask his staff what the book was before he presented it at the service, Mr Walker said: “I trust my staff to purchase the books that are appropriate for all events”.

“We’ve had a conversation in relation to what’s appropriate for events,” he said.

“Things happen from time to time which you have to change your processes and practices within your office.”

The first-term MP made headlines in January last year when he was fined $800 for public nuisance and banned from the Townsville Safe Night Precinct for 10 days after he was knocked unconscious in a fight at the Mad Cow tavern in Townsville.

Mr Walker remained coy on Wednesday about whether he would run for re-election in 2024, saying he would make a decision “as the time approaches”.

Mundingburra MP Les Walker. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The backbencher won his seat of Mundingburra at the 2020 election with a slim margin of 3.93 per cent.

“I’m very good at what I do and I represent the people every day of the week and I’m doing it right now,” Mr Walker said as he was asked why he should continue as a Member of Parliament

“As I’m speaking to you, I’m heading to another event on behalf of the constituents of Mundingburra.”

Mr Walker said the selection of the book by his staff was not intentional, describing them as “very professional”. He also said the book was not a reference to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into forensic DNA testing.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers was shocked by the “bizarre” revelations.

“To act in such an idiotic way with police at a vigil where we honour those police who have given their lives keeping us safe, at Police Remembrance Day, is up there with some of the most bizarre things I have ever heard of a MP doing,” he said.

“His actions are certainly incongruous with the strident support for police that we receive from the Premier and the Police Minister and I hope they deal with this MP.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk backed Mr Walker on Wednesday, saying the incident had happened almost a month ago.

“When Les found out he was appalled,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“He offered his apology to senior police at once and that was the appropriate thing to do.

“Our police do a difficult job in difficult circumstances and deserve our respect.”

Originally published as Mundingburra MP Les Walker apologises, blames staff after ‘tribute’ to fallen cops slammed