Gordon Nuttall found guilty of corruption and perjury

FORMER Queensland minister Gordon Nuttall has been found guilty of five counts of official corruption and five counts of perjury by a jury this morning.

Gordon Nuttall's daughter Lisa Adams cries as her brother Andrew Nuttall talks to the media outside court. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

FORMER Queensland minister Gordon Nuttall has been found guilty of five counts of official corruption and five counts of perjury by a jury this morning.

It was alleged Nuttall, 57, who served in Queensland's Labor cabinet between 2001 and 2005, arranged two government contracts collectively worth $3.6 million for friend Brendan McKennariey, in exchange for a one-third share of the profits.

Between 2001 and 2006, while a minister and a backbencher, he received $152,700 from Mr McKennariey.

The perjury charges related to evidence Nuttall gave at a closed hearing of the Crime and Misconduct Commission in 2006, at which he denied knowledge of Mr McKennariey's business dealings or that he was connected to the suspicious contracts.

He also denied knowing Mr McKennariey was connected to the Central Queensland University and rejected suggestions he sought money from any businessman other than mining magnate Ken Talbot.

Nuttall was last year found guilty on 36 counts of corruptly receiving nearly $360,000 in secret commissions from mining executives Talbot and Harold Shand. He was handed a seven-year prison sentence.

Nuttall is due to face sentencing on today's verdicts by judge Kerry O'Brien next month.