Liberal candidate denies having multiple identities online
Embattled Liberal candidate Adam Brooks says he’ll be pursuing legal action over allegations relating to his personal life, which the Premier has labelled “deeply concerning”. HIS STATEMENT >>
Tasmania
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- Mining Minister Adam Brooks resigns over ‘conflict of interest’ claims
- Tasmanian Liberal MP Adam Brooks resigns to focus on health and ‘personal matters’
EMBATTLED Liberal candidate Adam Brooks has confirmed he will be pursuing legal action over allegations relating to his personal life, which the Premier has labelled “deeply concerning.”
The Devonport businessman could be returned to the Tasmanian parliament despite his primary vote nosediving this election.
Mr Brooks, a former mining minister in the Hodgman Liberal government, left parliament after a scandal involving the use of his private work email.
He was endorsed as a candidate by the Liberals again this election, but his campaign was quickly dirtied – first by a charge involving the storage of clay target ammunition and now allegations he has multiple identities in the online dating world.
Mr Brooks has denied he used a fake driver’s licence to trick women on a dating app.
He posted a statement on his Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon which said he would be taking legal action.
“Despite the relentless accusations, I will not be providing a running commentary or responding to private and personal questions relating to my private life,” he wrote.
“I will be pursuing legal recourse against suggestions that I have acted against the law and I categorically deny any such allegation.
“I am aware of deliberate attempts to misrepresent, fabricate and distort certain aspects of my personal life in a sustained attempt to politically damage me during and after this campaign.
“I also reinforce my previous statements in relation to false accusations. Due to this I will not be commenting on any of these as I am instructing my solicitor to begin legal action against organisations and certain individuals.”
Premier Peter Gutwein said the allegations about Mr Brooks were “deeply concerning”.
“I spoke to him this morning and he continues to deny them, as he has done from the time they were first raised,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Mr Brooks has advised he is pursuing his legal options, and I note it has been reported that certain aspects of the matter will be referred to Tasmania Police for investigation. Given these circumstances it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this time.”
Tasmania Police confirmed on Tuesday afternoon it had been contacted by Victoria’s Transport Department in relation to its investigation into a possible fraudulent licence belonging to Mr Brooks and “will provide assistance to Victorian authorities if needed.”
With members of the state Liberal Party continuing to lie low post-election, Assistant Minister for Industry Development Jonno Duniam fronted media on Tuesday.
“There are allegations that have been made, allegations that have been denied and an investigation is underway – I think it would be incredibly premature and unhelpful for me to speculate on what could happen,” he said.
“What people can expect from the Liberal Party is an organisation that has faith in investigative bodies and the judiciary that are tasked with dealing like matters such as these.
It’s not for me to run a commentary on this.”
Vic authorities may investigate Brooks over fake ID claims
By David Killick
LIBERAL Braddon candidate Adam Brooks could be investigated by Victorian authorities about claims he used a fake driver’s licence to trick a woman on a dating app.
Victoria’s Department of Transport confirmed on Friday night it had been notified about the “possible use of a fraudulent document”.
“An investigation has been launched, and will be referred to the relevant local authorities should the matter require further attention,” a spokeswoman said.
It comes after Premier Peter Gutwein was again forced to back his embattled Braddon candidate Adam Brooks after fresh allegations emerged of him using false identities.
The ABC reported on Friday that Mr Brooks conducted an eight-month romantic relationship with a woman interstate while using a false name and had proffered a fake Victorian driver’s licence to confirm his identify as “Terry” Brooks.
The woman reportedly discovered his true identity with a Google search and dumped him. The production and use of fake identification documents is a criminal offence, which could pose difficulty for Mr Brooks if he was elected, because the Constitution Act declares any MP convicted of a offence carrying more than a year’s imprisonment cannot sit in the house. Mr Brooks was a member for Braddon between 2010 and 2019, resigning for health reasons after claims he misled parliament.
A subsequent Integrity Commission report found he failed to reveal the truth about conflicts of interest to then premier Will Hodgman. He is facing criminal charges in the Magistrates Court over the storage of ammunition.
Mr Gutwein on Friday defended Mr Brooks, denying the fresh claims made against him.
“I’ve got more important things to worry about than Mr Brooks’ love life,” he said.
“In terms of Mr Brooks, he has categorically denied that those profiles are his. I need to take his word. I’m not fussed about Mr Brooks’ love life.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Brooks did not deserve the trust of voters.
“A serial fibber, Mr Brooks now wants voters to believe him over a woman who has come forward as an alleged victim of his identity fraud.
“If Peter Gutwein doesn’t have the integrity to dump Mr Brooks from the Liberal ticket, hopefully the people of Braddon will.”
Labor leader Rebecca White said Mr Gutwein’s decision to stand by Mr Brooks called his judgment into question.
“We’ve said repeatedly that Peter Gutwein’s judgment has been called into question both with his endorsement of Adam Brooks, despite the fact he’s been summoned to court on firearms charges and nowadays latest allegations, which are just very strange,’’ she said.
“If somebody has had their identity stolen, then surely that’s serious enough for that matter to be reported to the police. After the damning Integrity Commission report, he was proven to lie to the parliament, he was proven to lie to the former premier, he is summonsed on firearms charges and now he’s still in Peter Gutwein’s team. It demonstrates Peter Gutwein has a lack of judgment here that is quite serious.”
Mr Brooks did not respond to a request for comment.
INITIAL:
LIBERAL candidate Adam Brooks has “categorically denied” knowledge of online dating profiles set up using his photograph and personal details, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
Screenshots have emerged of profiles showing Mr Brooks’ photograph and the handles “Gav” and “trb44eng” apparently set up on the dating sites Tinder and Plenty of Fish.
The Tinder profile described “Gav” as being 45 years old, “fit, adventurous, funny, friendly, down to earth and fun”.
In addition to the photographs, a business card for “Terry” Brooks has surfaced, bearing a Melbourne address.
Mr Brooks, who was the state’s mining and racing Minister in 2016, quit his portfolios after being accused of misleading parliament and quit parliament in February 2019 after a damning Integrity Commission report into his use of personal email accounts.
Attempting his political comeback in the state seat of Braddon, Mr Brooks is also awaiting a court appearance on criminal charges relating to the storage of ammunition.
Premier Peter Gutwein said Mr Brooks has denied knowledge of who set up the online profiles were his.
“Mr Brooks has categorically denied that those profiles are his,” Mr Gutwein said.
“On Saturday, the electors of Braddon will make their choice about Mr Brooks.”
Mr Gutwein said it was a matter for Mr Brooks whether he reported the apparent theft of his identity, but said someone may have sent the profiles up mischievously because “he’s a good looking bloke”.
Labor’s Sarah Lovell said the business card had a fictitious email and street addresses but the phone number went to a voicemail that resembled the voice of Adam Brooks.
“There are two possible reasons for this – either Adam Brooks has had his identity stolen and should report this fraudulent activity to the police or Adam Brooks is operating under multiple identities and needs to explain what he is up to,” she said.
“Adam Brooks also needs to explain whether online dating profiles under other names using photos which appear to be of him are linked to Adam Brooks or if he is being impersonated — or worse extorted,” Ms Lovell said.
“Adam Brooks has form for lying about his business activities and quit Parliament in disgrace after it was revealed he was continuing to operate his mining business email address during his brief stint as Mining Minister.
“Adam Brooks lied to a Parliamentary Committee and the then-Premier in an attempt to cover up that lie.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Brooks owed voters an explanation.
“The problem that he has is one of credibility,” she said.
“We’re talking here about a candidate who when he was in Parliament, and indeed a Minister of the crown, told a bare-faced lie three times in Parliament to the people of Tasmania.
“So I think Tasmanians will struggle to accept whatever explanation Mr Brooks has.”
Liberal campaign spokesman Michael Ferguson described the claims as Labor Party muckraking.
Comment was sought from Mr Brooks.
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