The death of former Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan has sparked a bitter political argument over the conduct of Queensland parliament, with both major parties pointing fingers over the treatment of the troubled politician.
Sullivan was found dead in his home last Thursday night, following a series of personal hardships including the death of a child, substance abuse, PTSD and his expulsion from the Labor caucus.
On Monday, opposition treasury spokeswoman Shannon Fentiman singled out Premier David Crisafulli and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie’s treatment of Sullivan in the chamber, and described the parliament as “toxic”.
“I think Shannon Fentiman has contributed to that,” Housing Minister Sam O’Connor said on Tuesday.
Last May, after he was kicked out of the Labor caucus for failing to comply with a return-to-work plan, a visibly distraught Sullivan came under sustained attack from the government benches.
Under parliamentary privilege, Sullivan was repeatedly accused of domestic violence – allegations he rejected.
“I used words that we could describe in this place as unparliamentary. I swore. That is the basis of what those matters were about,” Sullivan told parliament on May 22 last year.
“That is why my legal team says that they have never seen a matter dismissed so quickly. That is what it is about.”
Bleijie responded across the chamber: “I have sworn, but the cops have never come to my house.”
On Tuesday, O’Connor said all politicians needed to reflect on their behaviour and the tenor of political debate.
“We have to be attuned to the concerns of the public on that and what the public think about politicians generally,” he said.
“This is a really tragic situation and I don’t know if it’s helpful to lean into some of that commentary that I’ve seen from the Labor Party.”
Fentiman said the tone within parliament was set by the parliamentary leaders.
“I think it is an important time for the premier and the deputy premier to reflect on some of the things that they said in the parliament, and for us all to reflect on our own behaviours,” she said.
“Queenslanders, quite rightly, will be shocked by some of the footage of how Jimmy was treated in this place.”
O’Connor deflected that criticism of his leaders in the LNP.
“I think it was around the time the Labor Party kicked him out without much of an explanation,” he said.
“So I think if there’s self-reflection, that that should be a part of it as well.”
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