Bridget McKenzie
A QUEENSLAND accountant arrested arriving in Bali, allegedly with more than 20g of methamphetamine and ecstasy in his luggage, was last night rushed to hospital after suffering from shock.
Isaac Emmanuel Roberts, 35, of Toowoomba, is facing drugs charges which carry the death penalty.
He was among three people paraded before the media in Bali yesterday, ordered to wear black balaclavas and guarded by two officials with rifles as Customs officials and police announced details of their arrests.
Roberts fell ill after the press conference and was treated in the Trijata police hospital in Denpasar.
Lawyer Deni Sedana, one of a team of four representing Roberts, said his client had fallen ill late yesterday and that he often suffered from depression and was a suicide risk.
Looking pale, Roberts lay in a hospital bed at Trijata hospital covered by a blue and white striped blanket.
Mr Sedana said Roberts had a long history of drug taking and had medical records of drug treatment in Australia.
A family member last night said Mr Roberts’ mother had travelled to Bali.
The family member, who did not want to be named, said Mr Roberts was an OP1 student who topped his class at university.
“He went on to become an accountant and won all these awards,” the family member said. “He’s a very intelligent bloke. It’s just a very silly thing to do.” MALCOLM Turnbull has recalibrated his Cabinet to save marginal seat holders and those battling political scars under a shake- up that gives Queenslanders a stronger voice.
The Prime Minister has promoted five new faces to Cabinet and ousted three others in a wider- than- expected reshuffle that has sparked ructions and allegations of payback from some Nationals MPs.
Mr Turnbull was able to reboot his Cabinet after convincing AttorneyGeneral George Brandis to resign, the ongoing illness of Arthur Sinodinos and the dual citizenship debacle.
A “super jobs” portfolio has been created by Mr Turnbull, who plans to refocus his Government on the economy and security.
Michaelia Cash, bruised by the leaking of union raids and fatigued by relentless political attacks by union heavies, will take on the new role. She will be elevated into the powerful Expenditure Review Committee.
While in net terms Queensland has one only extra Cabinet position with the resignation of Senator Brandis, there will be two new Queensland faces in Cabinet, including first- time National MP and agri banker David Littleproud and former Newman government agriculture minister John McVeigh.
Barnaby Joyce wanted more Queenslanders in Cabinet but it came at the expense of Victorian Cabinet Minister Darren Chester and of assistant trade minister and Queensland MP Keith Pitt.
Mr Chester ironically did himself out of a Cabinet position for orchestrating the elevation of Bridget McKenzie as Deputy Leader of the Nationals instead of supporting Queenslander Matt Canavan.
With just four Nationals, it was untenable that half would be in Cabinet. Despite some internal rumblings, his demotion was not malicious.
Sources said Mr Chester would likely be promoted if a Cabinet position become available in the future.
However, some southern Nationals were bitter last night with Mr Joyce, who they believed were being punished for not anointing his “acolyte Matt Canavan”.
Mr Littleproud said yesterday that while there had been speculation about his promotion, he never banked on it until receiving a phone call from the PM.
Highly placed sources yesterday accused Mr Pitt of being disloyal and bitter, in part explaining his demotion.
Mr Pitt snubbed the Nationals leadership and Mr Joyce in a short statement acknowledging his demotion from the frontbench.
“I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister for the opportunities they provided to me,” he said.
“It is a privilege to serve the people of Australia in any capacity.”