Labor MP Jim Madden’s preselection under threat after coercive control allegations

Allegations Queensland Labor MP Jim Madden broke party rules designed to prevent branch-stacking and bullied his electorate staff will be ‘weighed up’ when the ALP decides if he should be preselected.

Queensland Labor MP Jim Madden. Picture: Liam Kidston

Allegations that Queensland Labor MP Jim Madden broke party rules designed to prevent branch-stacking and bullied his electorate staff will be “weighed up” when the ALP decides whether he should be preselected for next year’s state election.

Mr Madden, already found to have breached more than 20 party rules, is facing fresh alle­gations that he used taxpayer funds to buy artwork for his then-girlfriend, Sarah Grist, and coerced her to take executive roles in his branch.

Ms Grist was one of three ­people to speak publicly about their experiences with Mr Madden in interviews published by The Australian this week, including allegations he used coercive control for political gain.

State secretary Kate Flanders said allegations and investigation findings would be “weighed up” by the preselection committee.

“My personal opinion is we have an excellent caucus where we expect the highest standards of people and I think when we pre­select candidates for election, we look at everything that has happened over that term, and if they’re the right fit to represent that community,” she said.

“We’ve got a lot of decisions to make about preselections ahead of the 2024 state election, but also I think that’s a matter for Mr Madden to consider.”

Ms Flanders referred alle­gations that Mr Madden used taxpayer funds at a special school charity auction to buy artwork for Ms Grist to state parliamentary clerk Neil Laurie this week.

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

Ms Flanders decided in February that the MP should not be expelled from the party and instead should receive one-on-one anti-bullying and harassment training.

Queensland Labor state secretary Kate Flanders. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Premier Annastacia Palas­zczuk said she had not spoken to the under-fire backbencher since the coercive control allegations were aired by The Australian on Monday, but she hoped Mr Laurie’s investigation would be finalised before parliament sat again next week.

Ms Palaszczuk would not say whether Mr Madden would be excluded from the Labor caucus meeting on Monday or whether he would retain his position on the state development and regional industries parliamentary committee, for which he is paid an $25,746 on top of his $170,105 annual salary.

“I appreciate there have been some serious issues … raised and these additional matters need to be thoroughly investigated,” Ms Palaszczuk said on Tuesday.

“I am very concerned about the matters that were raised.

“I expect very high standards from all of my MPs.

“We will see the outcomes of the investigation; hopefully they’ll be completed before next week.”

 

Ahead of the next state election in October 2024, Mr Madden, 64, is already facing a threat of forced resignation to meet the ALP’s gender quota rules.

Under the Labor Party’s affirmative action policy, women are required to be preselected in 45 per cent of seats held by Labor.

Ms Flanders confirmed at least two sitting MPs would have to resign ahead of the next election to meet the quota target, despite Ms Palaszczuk’s insistence last year that “ all my MPs have the opportunity to contest the next­ ­election”.

Ms Flanders said: “If no one decides to step down, then all of the preselections are stopped until such time as we are able to pre­select enough women in all of those positions.”

Mr Madden has not responded to multiple requests for comment, but Ms Flanders said she had spoken with him since the allegations were published