Labor MP Shayne Neumann accused of unpaid rent by ALP allies

They’re supposed to be ALP allies, so why is Labor MP Shayne Neumann in a fight with unions and party branches at the Ipswich Trades Hall? And who owes who money?

Federal MP for Blair Shayne Neumann photographed at a mobile office at a shopping centre in Springfield, Queensland. Picture: David Clark

The Labor MP Anthony Albanese personally saved from a gender quota preselection battle is now fighting with his local party branches and trade unions, amid claims he owes them thousands in unpaid rent and they damaged his “priceless” political memorabilia, including a Kevin Rudd banner.

Correspondence leaked to The Weekend Australian reveals that just months out from a federal election there has been a dramatic breakdown in relations between Blair MP Shayne Neumann and the Ipswich Trades Hall and Labour Day Committee – made up of delegates from the unions and Labor branches in the city, west of Brisbane.

The increasingly terse letters show Trades Hall president Elliot D’Arcy, a Rail Tram and Bus Union organiser, demanded the veteran MP pay the organisation $4033.34 in unpaid rent for the storage of Mr Neumann’s election materials between September 2022 and June 2023.

In an August missive to Mr Neumann, Mr D’Arcy accused him of paying only $2200 for six months’ rent despite storing “various materials for over 18 months”.

Elected as president in May, Mr D’Arcy suggested that previous committee members – including current and former staff of Mr Neumann – had allowed the MP to take the space without a proper lease and without regular invoicing.

“I’m sure you agree this is unacceptable … given the current precarious financial situation and the appalling state of repair TJ Ryan House has fallen into, the current committee has no alternative but to pursue every outstanding dollar to meet that shortfall,” Mr D’Arcy wrote.

But in September, Mr Neumann wrote back, insisting he did not owe any money, and that his property had been “moved on a number of occasions without written notice or my permission”.

“During these unauthorised relocations my property was lost, damaged, and destroyed. I have not sought compensation at this stage,” Mr Neumann wrote.

He included an itemised list for $5050.50 in lost or wrecked items, including 10 beach umbrellas ($600), 50 candidate corflutes ($262.50), 25 T-shirts ($375), and “assorted memorabilia, including a Kevin Rudd banner (priceless), and damage to other banners and items” ($1300).

“If you wish to resolve this matter and bring it to an end I am prepared to do so,” Mr Neumann said. Three days later, Mr D’Arcy responded and said there had been no previous mention of the property damage, and pressed Mr Neumann to pay the outstanding money.

Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Shayne Neumann campaign together at the Ipswich Hospital during the 2007 election campaign. Picture: Patrick Hamilton

A Labor source close to the matter said they were “gobsmacked that a long-term member of the federal parliament is determined to resist payment of a legitimate claim for rent”, while another ALP branch member said it was “just unbelievable” that Mr Neumann was “stiffing them over a pretty small amount of money”.

Contacted by The Weekend Australian, Mr D’Arcy said he would let the correspondence speak for itself.

Mr Neumann said “they owe me money and I deserve an apology”, adding he had evidence and witnesses that his property had been destroyed, but would not elaborate. He also declined to say if the situation was unusual for an MP seeking re-election in a must-win seat.

He first won Blair in 2007 with 48.83 per cent of the primary vote and at the last election secured 35 per cent of first preferences in the redistributed seat. Mr Neumann now holds Blair on a margin of 5.23 per cent, and the LNP is considering preselecting former senator Joanna Lindgren for the seat.

Mr Albanese intervened in May to save Mr Neumann from a preselection challenge after state Labor MP Jennifer Howard indicated she wanted to run based on affirmative action rules that meant the seat should be contested by a woman.