State chases corrupt MP Gordon Nuttall’s super

The Queensland government will pursue disgraced former ALP minister Gordon Nuttall for up to $2.7m in superannuation.

Corrupt MP Gordon Nuttall outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

The Queensland government will pursue disgraced former Labor minister Gordon Nuttall for up to $2.7 million in superannuation.

Documents filed in the Queensland Supreme Court for the first time confirm the corrupt Nuttall’s nest egg — including interest and his wife’s entitlement — is $3,742,265.

The Australian understands a lawsuit filed by Treasurer Curtis Pitt will seek between $1.34m and $2.76m to be paid to the state.

Nuttall was sentenced to 14 years in jail, and served six, for receiving more than $500,000 in corrupt payments from two businessmen.

The 63-year-old ex-MP for Sandgate and former health, industrial relations, and primary industries minister was released from the low-security Palen Creek Correctional Centre a year ago after serving the longest sentence imposed on an Australian MP for corruption.

Mr Pitt said in July a further pursuit of Nuttall was what “Queenslanders expect the government to do”.

As part of the case, Under-Treasurer Jim Murphy signed a certificate this month declaring the amount of superannuation and retirement benefits owed to Nuttall under the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme.

In a sworn affidavit, Mr Murphy said the total lump sum value of Nuttall’s retirement package when he left parliament in 2006 was $1.5m.

By last month the figure had risen to $3.74m, including interest and a sum to be paid to his spouse upon death.

Nuttall made $183,773.42 in personal contributions during his parliamentary career between 1992 and 2006, Mr Murphy said.

In documents prepared by State Actuary Wayne Cannon, the complicated formula used to determine how much the state might be able to claim is set out.

It takes into consideration when the offending occurred, how much Nuttall contributed and how much would be owed to Nuttall’s wife as a death benefit.

Mr Cannon noted that “confirmation has not been obtained regarding Mr Nuttall’s divorce from his spouse since his retirement from parliament”.

“If Mr Nuttall is divorced ... a spouse’s reversionary pension upon Mr Nuttall’s subsequent death is no longer payable”.

It will now be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether Nuttall must repay the state, and to what extent.

The matter will return to court on December 16.

When he first appeared, Nuttall represented himself in court and did not respond to media questions. One of the conditions of his parole is that he is forbidden from talking to the media.