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MP sacked amid allegations of domestic abuse

Queensland’s minority Labor government is in jeopardy after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sacked MP Billy Gordon from the party over a string of undeclared criminal offences.

The Premier acknowledged the decision could see her lose her premiership, but said Mr Gordon’s position was untenable.

“Integrity is fundamental to any government that I lead, today I am prepared to put my premiership on the line,” she said.

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Mr Gordon, the member for Cook, has not revealed yet whether he will quit parliament which would spark a by-election in his far north Queensland seat of Cook.

Labor only has enough seats to form a minority government through the support of independent MP Peter Wellington and the loss of Cook could cost it government.

If Labor loses the seat to the Liberal National Party both parties would have 43 seats.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sacked MP Billy Gordon.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has sacked MP Billy Gordon. Photo: Getty

Labor would need the support of the two Katter’s Australian Party MPs to form a minority government.

Mr Gordon issued a statement last night that revealed a criminal history dating back to the 1980s that includes break and enters and an apprehended violence order taken out by his mother.

Ms Palaszczuk on Friday also referred Mr Gordon to police amid allegations he abused a former partner a decade ago.

“It is a past that isn’t pleasant and it’s a past that was kept from me and the deputy premier,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I’m appalled and I’m shocked and I feel sick to the stomach.

“There is no second chance.

“The Government will continue to function.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she said would write to state secretary of the party Evan Moorhead to have the first-time MP expelled.

She also wants the party’s pre-selection process reviewed, adding that Mr Gordon was a former federal candidate.

When asked if the number of seats Labor holds was playing on her mind she replied: “I am getting on with governing for Queensland.”

Opposition questions handling of matter

The Opposition has accused Ms Palaszczuk of trying to cover up the depths of Mr Gordon’s fall from grace.

Deputy Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek wants the Premier to release all correspondence over the scandal.

“It’s not going to go away until Annastacia Palaszczuk actually reveals what she knows and why she didn’t do anything about it earlier,” he said.

Deputy Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek wants the Premier to release all correspondence.

Deputy Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek wants the Premier to release all correspondence. Photo: AAP

Speaking before the sacking of Mr Gordon, Mr Wellington and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) said they would try to offer stability to the Government, but it would be conditional.

Mr Wellington gave his support to Labor to form a minority on the condition there was not gross fraud, misappropriation or like illegal activities.

“I was pretty clear on the issues which were important to me and the reasons to why I chose to support Annastacia Palaszczuk to be the next premier, my position has not changed,” he said.

KAP MP Rob Katter did not want to see upheaval in government but said KAP would only provide stability for the Labor Government if it met certain conditions.

“We do want to give them a go at government, but that’s conditional on them meeting some of the commitments that we have and we must demand on behalf of rural and regional Queensland,” he said.

Mr Gordon took the seat of Cook from the LNP in the January 31 election.

University of Queensland Professor of Law Graeme Orr said Mr Gordon could only be forced to resign from Parliament if he served more than a year in jail.

Professor Orr said expelling Mr Gordon from the Labor party was about politics, not the law.

“So effectively what’s happening is the power of political forces – Palaszczuk, Wellington and the Labor Party – are creating a norm that doesn’t exist formally in the law.”

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