Queensland Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan ejected from party following alleged domestic violence incident

Queensland Labor has sensationally voted to eject embattled MP Jimmy Sullivan from the party after he faced court over an alleged domestic violence incident at his home the day after the October state election.

Member for Stafford James (Jimmy) Sullivan Parliamentary sitting day, including Question Time, at Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

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Queensland Labor has sensationally voted to eject embattled MP Jimmy Sullivan from the party after he faced court over an alleged domestic violence incident at his home the day after the October state election.

The decision was made at an extraordinary and emotional caucus meeting on Monday, where the Member for Stafford was ousted in a unanimous move by party members, with only Mr Sullivan voting against the motion and later describing it as a “cheap political move”.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles said Mr Sullivan had failed to adhere to mandatory reporting as part of a return-to-work plan devised by the party after police withdrew the alleged DV civil court action.

“The Labor Party does and always has set a very high standard for our members of parliament,” Mr Miles said. “In this case, we agreed on a safe return-to-work plan for Mr Sullivan. He hasn’t complied with that plan, and as a result, we have sought caucus support to take this action.

“As you’ll understand, many of these matters are personal in nature, and so there are limits to what I can discuss.”

Police were called to Mr Sullivan’s Stafford home, on Brisbane’s northside, on the evening of Sunday, October 27, to a “reported domestic violence incident”, but no criminal charges were laid. Police withdrew civil court action against the right-faction MP in February.

Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles on Monday. Picture: Richard Walker

In a statement, Mr Sullivan said he would stay in parliament as a crossbencher to represent his Labor branch members and his “beautiful community who elected me twice as a Labor MP”.

“The premise of the leader’s motion was completely untrue,” he said. “I complied with every requirement placed on me, and more, and that was articulated to the leadership team in detail in my return to work.

“I am Labor to my core, I have bled for this party since I was a teenager, including being a campaign director at federal, state and council levels and working in opposition for a team of just seven MPs, winning back government in one term.

“This is a cheap political move – one that is not just personally hurtful but also against the principles of our great party.”

The LNP government ratcheted up the pressure on the Labor opposition over Mr Sullivan during the last sitting of parliament, as a domestic violence bill was introduced.

The second-term MP was not sworn in for three months after winning his seat.

He was welcomed back into the fold in February, but was absent from the most recent sitting week of parliament.

His colleagues had privately expressed concerns about Mr Sullivan’s relationship with alcohol, and in February he gave a “personal explanation” to parliament about his absence.

While he did not discuss the specifics of the allegations, he said the “care and support” of medical staff at the Brisbane Private Hospital meant he was “a better dad and a better husband”.

Queensland ALP state secretary Kate Flanders said the party’s admin committee met on Monday night and withdrew the party’s endorsement for Mr Sullivan.

It is understood Labor MPs believed Mr Sullivan had stopped seeking treatment for his problems with alcohol and other issues stemming from the death of his daughter, who was stillborn in April 2019.