Peter Dutton declares support for under-fire Warren Entsch

Peter Dutton declares support for Warren Entsch, as Qld Treasurer says allegations about the MP should be referred to the national corruption watchdog.

Federal Liberal MP Warren Entsch tells federal parliament this week there was no “quid pro quo” arrangement with billionaire property developer and LNP donor Alex Sekler to organise him a Covid jab in the Torres Strait. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Peter Dutton has declared his support for Warren Entsch, as Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick says claims about the veteran MP should be sent to the nat­ional corruption watchdog.

Queensland Health has referred to the state Crime and Corruption Commission allegations the federal MP for Leichhardt organised a fast-tracked Pfizer jab for his billionaire party donor mate on the Torres Strait in July 2021, when the businessman was ineligible and there was a nationwide shortage of the vaccine.

An investigation by The Australian has also uncovered a $213,725 two-year grant from the Morrison government to Mr Entsch’s non-Indigenous wife’s private company to teach pottery in the remote Aboriginal community of Doomadgee, for which she did not have to declare their relationship.

Mr Entsch’s electorate also gave Yolonde Entsch’s company a $1000 NAIDOC week grant, to “celebrate Indigenous excellence”. Ms Entsch is the LNP candidate for the state seat of Cairns.

Breaking his silence on Mr Entsch, the Opposition Leader said the allegations were a “grubby smear”, blaming Queensland Labor Deputy Premier Steven Miles, who said Mr Entsch’s jab facilitation was “selfish and disgusting”.

“I haven’t come across a local member harder working or more passionate about fighting for his community,” Mr Dutton told The Australian. “Steven Miles is the master of political dark arts and his attacks on Warren’s wife, who is a candidate in the upcoming state election, will backfire. It’s a grubby smear.”

Mr Entsch has denied all wrongdoing. His wife has not returned calls.

In Mr Entsch’s hometown of Cairns on Thursday, Mr Dick said the Leichhardt MP had “very serious questions” to answer.

Federal LNP MP for Leichhardt Warren Entsch during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick in Cairns on Thursday. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Entsch helped property developer Alex Sekler receive the Pfizer jab. Mr Sekler, who has not responded to questions from The Australian, donated $13,000 to the LNP ahead of the 2019 federal election and gave the party their single biggest donation for last year’s poll: $304,000 in April.

All but $4000 was spent on Mr Entsch’s successful campaign to retain Leichhardt. The rest covered the Canberra restaurant bill for a private dinner the politician organised for Mr Sekler with then-prime minister Scott Morrison and senior ministers Bridget McKenzie and David Littleproud, in February last year.

He and his wife – life coach, relationship break-up expert and Instagram influencer Violetta Sek­ler – also donated $650,000 to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation for their coronavirus equipment appeal in March 2020, and $80,000 for an endoscopy appeal in 2019.

Violetta Sekler and Alex Sekler with Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation chair Dr Ken Chapman (centre), after donating $650,000 to the foundation’s coronavirus appeal.

Mr Dick, travelling around the state to sell this month’s state budget, challenged Mr Entsch to make a “full and public explanation” for the matters that had been reported.

“These are very serious issues that are raised,” Mr Dick said.

“I am pleased appropriate anti-corruption bodies are looking into it. There has been talk of the new national corruption body looking into these issues, and CCC is looking into them as well here in Queensland.

“I think it remains for Mr Entsch to answer those very serious questions being directed ­towards him.”

Independent commonwealth agency the National Anti-­Corruption Commission will start work on July 1, with the goal of detecting, investigating and reporting on serious and systemic corrupt conduct in the commonwealth public sector.

Under the NACC Act, public officials include federal MPs, senators, and their staff.

Mr Entsch has strenuously denied any wrongdoing, and told The Australian last week that Mr Sekler had not jumped the queue.