Cook MP Billy Gordon quits politics
CONTROVERSIAL politician Billy Gordon has dropped out of the Queensland election race and endorsed a candidate from the party that sacked him.
CONTROVERSIAL politician Billy Gordon has announced he is quitting politics and will not contest his seat at the state election.
The Cook MP, who quit the Palaszczuk Government just months into their first term of Government, told the ABC he achieved “many great things” over his three years as the sitting MP.
Cook MP Billy Gordon has quit the race for his seat. That will help @QLDLabor . #qldvotes
â Steven Wardill (@stevenwardill) October 31, 2017
The ALP has preselected Cynthia Lui for the seat of Cook.
Mr Gordon gave Ms Lui his endorsement and said he was looking forward to the first Torres Straight Island MP being elected to the Queensland Parliament.
“Only Annastacia Palaszczuk has the courage, belief and vision needed to lead this great state into the next term of government,” he said.
“As an indigenous Australian I am excited at the prospect of having for the very first time a Torres Strait Islander elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly.”
Mr Gordon said it had been a privilege to represent the electorate and thanked his supporters and family.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
“You’ve stood with me through thick and thin.”
Mr Gordon’s time in parliament was marred by personal controversy and tension over his decisions as a crossbencher, while he was also criticised by constituents for being uncontactable and conspicuously absent.
He was referred to the state’s police commissioner in March 2015 and later cleared over domestic violence allegations that cost him his place in the Labor party.
His refusal to quit government after being sacked created a hung parliament for the Palaszczuk government and forced the premier to rely on his support as an independent.
A mild heart attack in February 2016 required Mr Gordon to undergo surgery and spend time away from parliament.
In July 2016, he was fined $750 and banned from getting behind the wheel for four months after he was caught driving almost twice the legal alcohol limit. At the time of the incident Mr Gordon issued a statement admitting there was no excuse for his “poor judgement”, but said there had been a death in his immediate family.
In March this year, Mr Gordon mistakenly voted to support an LNP bill that would have forced arbitration between sugar companies. The bill was not successful.
BILLY GORDON’S TIME IN POLITICS
January 31, 2015: Elected to north Queensland electorate of Cook.
March 27, 2015: Premier refers allegations he abused ex-partner, dodged paying child support and tax to police commissioner.
March 29, 2015: Gordon sacked from Labor party over undisclosed criminal history. Refuses to quit, creating hung parliament.
March 31, 2015: Second woman makes domestic violence allegations against him.
April 1, 2015: Gordon denies bashing former partner. Confirms will support Labor government as independent.
September 24, 2015: Police state “insufficient evidence” to charge Gordon over domestic violence allegations.
October 12, 2015: Police investigate him for texting explicit images to women. No charges laid.
October 23, 2015: All but one of Gordon’s staff quit his main electorate office.
February 19, 2016: Gordon suffers mild heart attack, spends several days in hospital.
June 1, 2016: Gordon charged with DUI after being pulled over north of Cairns. Later admits he should not have been driving and has no excuse.
June 21, 2016: Queensland Treasurer urges Gordon to pay $13,000 in child support payments he reportedly owes to ex-partner.
July 1, 2016: He pleads guilty to drink driving in Brisbane Magistrates Court and is fined $750 and disqualified from driving for four months.
December 13, 2016: Queensland Speaker Peter Wellington clears Gordon of accusations he misled parliament by claiming his child support debts were rectified.
October 31, 2017: Gordon announces he will not run in the November 25 state election and endorses Labor candidate Cynthia Lui.
Originally published as Cook MP Billy Gordon quits politics