Parliament ‘no go’ zone
Do not come back, former candidate told
A FORMER One Nation candidate has been banned indefinitely from the Queensland parliamentary precinct after his “immature” act outside Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper’s office.
The Queensland government Ethics Committee has completed a review into an incident involving former Thuringowa candidate Troy Thompson on a visit to parliament during the 2020 election campaign.
The former candidate put election material on the Member for Thuringowa’s office door.
Mr Thompson was later disendorsed after it was discovered he used to have a different legal name and failed to disclose his directorship in a company that went insolvent in 2017.
On August 12 last year, Mr Harper wrote to the Speaker alleging Mirani MP Stephen Andrew had failed to supervise a guest, Mr Thompson, in the parliamentary precinct.
Mr Harper provided the Speaker with screenshots from Mr Thompson’s Facebook page in which the candidate appeared to have placed a One Nation brochure on Mr Harper’s office door.
Speaker of the House Curtis Pitt referred the matter to the Ethics Committee the next day, saying the “activity could, at best, be considered immature”. “In any event, it is not appropriate behaviour on the parliamentary precinct.”
In his submissions, Mr Andrew said Mr Thompson was advised to “use the rest room facilities, and please return directly to my office”, and was explicitly told not to go anywhere else, touch anything or leave to speak with anyone without the MP.
This was the second time Mr Andrew, the only sitting One Nation MP in the Queensland parliament, had come under fire due to the behaviour of his guests.
His privilege to bring guests to the parliamentary precinct was suspended for six months in 2019. The committee found that Mr Andrew, in relation to Mr Thompson’s behaviour, did not engage in disorderly conduct or engage in any behaviour that could interfere with the free exercise of assembly.
The committee did find Mr Thompson guilty of contempt because he breached a parliamentary law and was disrespectful to, or diminished the standing, authority or dignity of the parliament.
“Based on the information before the committee, the committee is satisfied that Mr Thompson’s conduct amounts to an improper interference with the free exercise of the assembly of its authority or functions,” the report into the incident said.
However, Mr Thompson was found not guilty of contempt in relation to the allegation he prevented Mr Harper from completing his normal duties.
In a letter to the Ethics Committee Mr Thompson clarified that “at no time was there any intent to engage in disorderly conduct”.
He also apologised to Mr Harper and said at no time was there an “intention to intimidate the Member for Thuringowa”.
“I sincerely apologise to Mr Harper MP if he feels my ac
tions have in any way felt this was my intent. I assure the ethics committee this was not my intention, but a mere lapse in judgment on my part,” Mr Thompson wrote.
Mr Thompson declined to comment on the Ethics Committee findings.
Mr Harper told the Townsville Bulletin he was glad to put the issue behind him.