Molhoek: I looked after staff

WORKERS at a natural remedies business where LNP MP Rob Molhoek was a director have lost their jobs after the company collapsed.

Disgruntled staff members are chasing severance payments after the business, which distributed naturopathic products, went into administration this month.

Mr Molhoek resigned from the board of Natural Remedies Group shortly before the company collapsed. He is still a director of a related company, Natural Vitality Australia, which manufactures goods that are marketed as herbal medicines and conducts a very similar business.

The companies attracted attention after it emerged they sold colloidal silver – a dangerous supplement that can leave skin stained blue if misused – despite warnings about the product from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Mr Molhoek’s fiancee Weiqun “Lucy” Gu (both above) is one of only a couple of shareholders in both companies.

The MP said he resigned from the board of Natural Remedies Group “about two months ago” because of “philosophical differences” with other board members about the future of the distribution business.

He said it “absolutely concerns me” that staff who lost their jobs had not been paid and that he had tried to help them.

He said he told former staff he would “advocate on your behalf” and also spoke to the company director to check on their welfare. “I actually contacted every one of them personally over a week ago just to explain to them the process.”

But former staff said Mr Molhoek had not helped them.

“He proclaims he is about jobs for Queensland but when it comes to his own staff there is no care,” an ex-staffer said. “He put people out into the cold.”