Stood-down Queensland Labor MP Les Walker still on higher pay

Queensland Labor MP Les Walker has still been receiving a higher pay cheque as a member of a government committee despite being stood down after he was charged with assault.

Queensland Labor MP Les Walker. Picture: Evan Morgan

Queensland government MP Les Walker has been receiving a higher pay cheque as a ­member of a government committee, despite being stood down from the role after he was charged with assault.

It was the second time this year Mr Walker, 56, has been in trouble with police for alleged scuffles in Townsville’s late-night precinct, prompting Premier ­Annastacia Palaszczuk to strip the Mundingburra MP of his role on the government’s transport and resources committee.

However, it was revealed in an estimates hearing on Tuesday that Mr Walker had been ­“substituted out” and was being paid the extra $24,000 a year that came with the extra roles.

Ms Palaszczuk said the standing down would not take effect until parliament resumed.

“Les has indicated to me, he has written to me, and I have forwarded that to the clerk,” the Premier said. “The next sitting of parliament is when it takes effect; the parliament has to give effect, is my understanding.”

Ms Palaszczuk said stripping Mr Walker of the roles was a suitable punishment.

Manager of opposition business Jarrod Bleijie said Mr Walker could resign from the role immediately and pay back the extra salary.

“The member for Mundingburra hasn’t done the honourable thing and resigned from the transport and resources committee,” Mr Bleijie said.

Mr Walker is alleged to have assaulted Stephen Lane, a former independent state candidate and Liberal National Party supporter, who had been at an LNP “politics in the pub” event before the ­scuffle.

Mr Walker was charged with assault and being disorderly on a licensed premises and banned from entering the city’s late-night precinct until ­August 11.

After the charges were revealed, Ms Palaszczuk released a statement saying she was “deeply disappointed” in Mr Walker, who had promised to avoid such incidents after he was fined $800 and banned from Townsville’s nightclub precinct after a late-night bar fight at the Mad Cow Tavern in January.

“I expect all of my MPs to meet the highest standards,” Ms Palas­zczuk said.

“I am angry I have had to repeat this to Les. Regardless of what has occurred and who is at fault, Les has failed in his promise to me not to be placed in circumstances where those standards can be questioned.”

Mr Bleijie accused Ms Palas­zczuk of a “lack of leadership” and said Mr Walker could “not be trusted” to represent his ­constituents.

“After his Mad Cow incident in January, Les Walker promised the people of Townsville he would not find himself in trouble, yet here we are again,” Mr Bleijie said.

“This isn’t about the alleged incident or the upcoming court case, this is about trust.

“Mr Walker has broken his promise to the people of Townsville and cannot be trusted to represent them any longer in parliament.”

Mr Walker was knocked out in the January brawl, involving a 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, and later fronted a press conference with bruises on his face.

Mr Lane’s mother, Jenny Lane, was a long-time councillor and a colleague of Mr Walker on the Townsville City Council, ­although they were in rival council factions.