‘Call me Sir’ MP Jim Madden to quit at next election

Queensland Labor MP Jim Madden won’t contest the next state election after being accused of bullying and coercive control.

Under-fire Queensland MP Jim Madden will continue to attend Labor caucus meetings until he retires at the 2024 state election, despite facing serious allegations of coercive control and bullying.

Mr Madden is accused of coercive control by ex-girlfriend Sarah Grist, who alleges he made her call him “Sir” during their years-long relationship.

Ms Grist says Mr Madden used his power over her to pay for her Labor membership, force her to take executive roles in his local branch, and tell her how to vote, despite her expressing strong objections and fears she was not capable of taking on the roles.

In his first public comments after The Australian aired allegations by Ms Grist and former electorate staff, Mr Madden made a personal statement to parliament on Tuesday morning to say he decided “some time ago” not to recontest his safe seat at the October 2024 election.

“I made the decision that I will retire from as a member of parliament in 2024 after careful consideration of my ongoing physical and mental health,” he told parliament.

“In just the last two years, I have been admitted to hospital to undergo surgery on three occasions.

“But until the 2024 election, I am committed to continuing to serve my community as a Member of Ipswich West.”

Mr Madden, who had not responded to multiple requests for comment, said he had always “tried to uphold the standards expected by my community and the Australian Labor Party”.

“I have fully participated in processes about issues raised,” he told parliament.

“I am also able to report the clerk of parliament has reviewed a referred matter dating from 2018 and found the complaint was not substantiated.”

The clerk of Queensland parliament, Neil Laurie, cleared Mr Madden last week of using taxpayer money to buy an artwork for Ms Grist from a charity auction in 2018. He did not end up acquitting the purchase to the parliament, so Mr Laurie found he did not break any rules.

“I spent my own money buying a piece of art from a local special school to support their fundraising efforts,” Mr Madden said.

“It is a great part of my role as the Member for Ipswich West to support the effort and creative energy of young people in our community.”

In his short speech to parliament on Tuesday, Mr Madden did not specifically address the allegations of coercive control or bullying.

A separate investigation ordered by the ALP last year into bullying allegations found 22 breaches of party rules by Mr Madden.

Two of Mr Madden’s electorate office staff have also told The Australian the backbencher allegedly bullied and harassed them.

One of the staffers, Alison Young, has an approved WorkCover claim for diagnosed PTSD and anxiety arising from her time in Mr Madden’s office.

The ALP is investigating a separate formal complaint against Mr Madden, made by an unnamed former electorate staffer, alleging bullying and other inappropriate behaviour against staff, volunteers and campaigners.

In July last year, before allegations against Mr Madden were made public, he told The Australian he “fully intended” to stay in Ipswich West, a seat Labor holds with a margin of more than 14 per cent.

Mr Madden, 64, was already facing a threat of forced resignation to meet the ALP’s gender quota rules.

He will continue to attend Labor caucus meetings and vote with the government until he quits politics next year.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Monday said Ms Grist could take allegations of coercive control to the police or “talk to the (Labor) party”.

Last week ALP State Secretary Kate Flanders said allegations and investigation findings about Mr Madden would be “weighed up” by the preselection committee.