Jimmy Sullivan defends himself as LNP launches extraordinary motion calling for him to quit

Embattled former Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan has copped a grilling in parliament over a police visit to his home last year, as the LNP launches an extraordinary motion calling for him to quit.

Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan during Thursday’s sitting. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Embattled Stafford MP Jimmy Sullivan has told Parliament the domestic incident that triggered police attendance at his home last October was not violent — it was because he swore.

The state government, led by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, on Thursday moved an extraordinary motion calling for Mr Sullivan to quit Queensland parliament and for Labor to table his return to work plan before 5pm.

“We believe on this side of the House, the Member for Stafford does not deserve to serve in this place,” Mr Bleijie said.

All but a handful of Labor MPs exited the chamber as the government called for his resignation.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie moved an extraordinary motion calling for Mr Sullivan to quit the parliament. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Sullivan, who was disendorsed by Queensland Labor last week and booted from caucus for failing to adhere to the return to work plan, defended the incident in parliament on Thursday.

“I used words that we would describe in this place as unparliamentary. I swore,” Mr Sullivan said.

“That’s the basis of what those matters were about.”

LNP MPs erupted, with Minister Laura Gerber shouting “there’s no excuse for violence”.

“There was no violence,” Mr Sullivan shot back.

He told parliament his legal team had “never seen a matter dismissed so quickly”.

“The member for Kawana [Jarrod Bleijie] can laugh all he likes, but that’s the truth of the matter,” Mr Sullivan said.

“I’ve sworn and the cops were never at my house,” Mr Bleijie retorted.

It comes after police were called to a “reported domestic violence incident” at Mr Sullivan’s Kedron home on October 27.

Mr Sullivan then attended Family Court on October 31. No charges were laid.

He did not return to parliament until February.

Mr Sullivan told parliament the October incident followed the birth of his second daughter, which brought on post-traumatic stress connected to the tragic loss of his first child.

“I obviously went into PTSD with the loss of our first daughter, and our beautiful (second) daughter could have been her twin. It set me off,” he said.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles dismissed the move as a stunt.

“The fact is the LNP have been trying for some time to politicise this matter rather than do their jobs. The LNP want to play stunts and petty politics,” he said.

“It’s time they get on with governing and get out of the gutter.”

Despite being disowned by his party, Mr Sullivan vowed loyalty to Labor and Mr Miles.

“I am Labor to my core,” he said.

“I don’t apologise that I will only vote with the Labor Party. That is my intention. I will continue to represent my local branch members who preselected me and my local community who elected me.”

Originally published as Jimmy Sullivan defends himself as LNP launches extraordinary motion calling for him to quit