KAP vows to seek probe into Premier

QUEENSLAND’S Katter MPS will push for the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate Annastacia Palaszczuk’s slashing of the party’s staff, regardless of what a parliamentary probe into the matter finds.

The Ethics Committee could this week be poised finally hand down its findings into allegations Ms Palaszczuk committed a contempt of the parliament when she cut the additional staff first awarded to the Katter’s Australia Party in the hung parliament after its Queensland MPS refused to admonish former Senator Fraser Anning.

It comes a year after the matter was first referred to the powerful parliamentary oversight committee after being considered by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

“The KAP has consistently been of the view that there are two separate matters to be considered in relation to the Premier’s conduct,” KAP state leader Robbie Katter said.

“Firstly, there are the very serious and very unusual alleged breaches of the criminal code.

“Secondly, there is the matter of contempt of parliament.

“Although these matters have arisen from the same conduct, we firmly believe they both need to be properly investigated by the appropriate bodies with the appropriate knowledge and expertise to make a judgment.

“Regardless of the outcomes of the Ethics Committee – and I hope they do present their findings this week because it’s been 12 months – we still maintain that the alleged breaches of the criminal code need to be investigated by the police and the DPP and the Premier needs to stand aside while the investigation is being conducted.”

Ms Palaszczuk has previously chalked the saga up to the argy bargy of debate in the Parliament.

The Premier is prevented from commenting while the matter is before the Ethics Committee.

The KAP has sought its own legal advice, which it referred to DPP Michael Byrne QC.

Mr Byrne responded at the time that he believed the allegations raised “were sufficiently unusual and serious to warrant this office considering the matter”.

“However in light of the fact that effectively the same complaint has been made to the Speaker, I decline to consider the matter at the time,” he said in a letter to the KAP in May.