Billy Gordon: The potential political fallout from latest child support allegations
Updated
The latest chapter in the Billy Gordon saga can be read in two parts: personal and parliamentary.
Strictly speaking the latter would have more serious consequences for Mr Gordon - and the minority Labor Government - if it turns out that he has misled the house, although of course his constituents will also be keenly interested in his personal behaviour.
The independent Member for Cook twice last year told parliament that he was sorting out his child support and tax affairs.
But new allegations have surfaced over the past two days that he still owes child support payments and that his tax returns are not up to date.
The Speaker is investigating whether that amounts to a contempt of parliament, given what Mr Gordon said in March 2015.
"I have moved to immediately rectify my tax affairs," he told the House.
"I have also ensured that any outstanding child support payments have been made to my ex-partner so that I can put this issue beyond doubt."
In another personal explanation to parliament in May that year he said he was committed to rectifying the situation.
"Which is why I am now in an arrangement with the Child Support Agency to take a calculated amount of my wage on a regular basis to make up the unpaid child support," he said.
Gordon could be fined, suspended or expelled
If those statements were untrue, Mr Gordon could be referred to the Ethics Committee, then potentially admonished, or fined, or even suspended or expelled — although theses are only hypothetical possibilities and some way down the track.
After that, there is even the theoretical threat to the Palaszczuk Government's hold on power.
A by-election could be held if Mr Gordon is expelled or the Government may just decide to instead go to a general election, which is currently due in early 2018.
The Parliament has no jurisdiction or interest in whether or not Mr Gordon honours his personal financial obligations.
The latest allegations are relevant to Parliament's standing orders only if they happen to prove that his statements last year were false.
To be fair, the MP said he "continues to honour all agreements entered into since I explained these matters to in Parliament in March 2015, and I will willingly continue to do so".
"As I also told the House at the time, I moved immediately to rectify my taxation matters. This has been a long and complex process. I am satisfied with my progress," he says.
If that's true, there's nothing for the Ethics Committee to consider.
The politics, however, is another situation.
Topics: government-and-politics, state-parliament, alp, political-parties, brisbane-4000, qld, cairns-4870
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