First Palaszczuk, now Madden; two Queensland by-elections in March

Controversial ‘Call me Sir’ Labor MP Jim Madden has abruptly quit parliament to run for local government, sparking another by-election ahead of the October state election.

Ipswich West MP Jim Madden addresses the Queensland parliament time. Picture: NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

Controversial “Call me Sir” Labor MP Jim Madden has abruptly quit Queensland’s parliament to run for local government, triggering another by-election ahead of the October state election.

Mr Madden, the third-term MP for the safe Labor seat of Ipswich West, west of Brisbane, told parliament in April that he would retire at the election, just weeks after The Australian published allegations of workplace bullying, coercive control and inappropriate touching levelled by two former staffers and his ex-partner.

Mr Madden denies the allegations; one of the former staffers, Alison Young, has personally served him with legal documents warning he could be sued for the alleged electorate office bullying.

But the backbencher shocked ALP colleagues when he wrote to them on Saturday, revealing he had notified Speaker Curtis Pitt the day before that he was resigning “effective immediately”.

“But while I am resigning from state parliament, I am not resigning from public life,” Mr Madden said.

“It is my intention to contest the forthcoming Ipswich City Council election and stand as a councillor for Division 4, the boundaries of which broadly mirror the boundaries of the electorate of Ipswich West.”

Mr Madden thanked his Labor colleagues, particularly those elected with him in 2015 when Annastacia Palaszczuk became premier.

“We have all been through a lot and as I have learnt, life in politics can be tough but those tough times were made easier for me knowing I had your support,” he said.

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

Sarah Grist, Alison Young and David Stone are speaking out about Labor MP Jim Madden's alleged inappropriate behaviour towards them. Picture: Sarah Elks

When he announced his intention last April to retire, Mr Madden said the decision was motivated by his “ongoing physical and mental health” and that he had surgery three times in two years.

Premier Steven Miles confirmed the Ipswich West by-election would be held on March 16, the same date as the statewide local government elections and the Inala by-election triggered by Ms Palaszczuk’s resignation.

A former staffer of Ms Palaszczuk, the Right’s Wendy Bourne, was preselected unopposed as Labor’s candidate for Ipswich West, after her Left faction rival Neisha Traill withdrew her nomination.

Mr Madden had been a member of the Right faction, but defected to join the dominant Left in May 2020.