‘Call me Sir’ MP Jim Madden cleared of artwork buy, after Queensland parliament probe
The clerk of Queensland parliament has cleared under-fire Labor MP Jim Madden of using taxpayer money to buy an artwork for his girlfriend from a charity auction.
The clerk of Queensland parliament has cleared under-fire Labor MP Jim Madden of using taxpayer money to buy an artwork for his girlfriend from a charity auction.
Neil Laurie wrote to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday informing her that his investigation into the alleged misuse of electorate funds did not substantiate the complaint against Mr Madden, ruling the artwork was the personal property of the Ipswich West MP.
But Ms Palaszczuk has not said what she will do - if anything - about allegations of coercive control, workplace bullying and inappropriate touching that have been levelled against her backbencher.
Those issues did not form part of Mr Laurie’s investigation, and the allegations have not been made directly to Ms Palaszczuk.
This week, The Australian published interviews with two of Mr Madden’s former electorate officer staffers, Alison Young and David Stone, and his former girlfriend, Sarah Grist.
Queensland Labor is also investigating a separate formal complaint against Mr Madden by another former electorate office staffer, who alleges bullying, harassment and inappropriate behaviour towards staff, party members and volunteers by Mr Madden.
Ms Grist alleged Mr Madden - who made her call him “Sir” during their years-long relationship - used coercive control against her for his political gains, including paying for her Labor party membership, forcing her to take executive roles in his local branch, and telling her how to vote in branch matters.
She also said Mr Madden had given her a butterfly picture he’d bought from a charity auction at the Claremont Special School in 2018. He later asked for it back and gave her a smaller photocopied version of the artwork.
“He said he needed it back for a bit … he elaborated about it being bought accidentally on the wrong credit card, so it was bought with public funds on his office card, and with the spotlight on that sort of stuff, he needed it back,” Ms Grist told The Australian.
ALP state secretary Kate Flanders referred the allegations to Mr Laurie for investigation after being asked questions by The Australian.
Mr Laurie’s investigation found Mr Madden bought three artworks from the special school auction, including the butterfly photograph for Ms Grist.
He paid for the art, which totalled $185 of which $125 was for the butterfly picture, using a cheque drawn from an account in his name – which held the taxpayer-funded electorate allowance.
Mr Laurie also confirmed Mr Madden asked for the picture back from Ms Grist, and all three artworks are now in storage at his electorate office.
But Mr Madden did not end up acquitting the payment to the parliament, so has not technically broken the rules.
“Whether by omission or intention, the $185 for the photographs was never acquitted through the members’ entitlement system,” Mr Laurie found.
“The consequence of not acquitting the photographs is that they were not paid out of public funds, but were by default paid for by the member personally.”
In his investigation, Mr Laurie said he had spoken to Mr Madden, Ms Grist and other electorate office staff, and had examined the electorate allowance acquittal system.
“In summary, I have found the complaint is not substantiated,” he said in his letter to Ms Palaszczuk, which has been tabled in parliament.
“No misuse of the ECA (Members’ Electorate and Communications Allowance) as particularised above has been established. The artwork the subject of the complaint was never acquitted through the acquittals database and is as a consequence the personal property of the member.”
Mr Laurie said he was also contacted by an officer for the Crime and Corruption Commission about his probe, but “did not cause a reasonable suspicion such as to warrant a notification to the CCC”.
Earlier this week, Ms Palaszczuk would not say whether she would stand Mr Madden down from his $25,000/year role as a parliamentary committee member, or from her caucus, as a result of the allegations.
Ms Young, Mr Madden’s former electorate officer, alleged bullying and harassment by Mr Madden. She made a claim to WorkCover after being diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, which was approved.
An investigation by the ALP found Mr Madden should not be expelled as a result of Ms Young’s complaint, but said he should be reprimanded and given one-on-one anti-bullying and harassment training.
Mr Stone alleged Mr Madden inappropriately touched him while he was working in the politician’s office, including tucking in his shirt and adjusting his belt.
Mr Madden has not responded to repeated requests for comment from The Australian. He engaged Maurice Blackburn lawyers to represent him during Labor’s investigation of Ms Young’s complaint, and defended himself during the WorkCover process.
Queensland parliament sits next week.
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