Queensland MP Jimmy Sullivan set to be booted from state Labor caucus
Queensland MP Jimmy Sullivan is set to be booted from the state parliamentary Labor caucus and will be forced to sit on the crossbench.
An extraordinary meeting of Labor MPs was held in Brisbane on Monday after a motion was moved by Opposition Leader Steven Miles to oust Mr Sullivan from the caucus.
Mr Sullivan is a second-term MP who has represented the electorate of Stafford on Brisbane's north side since 2020.
His future had been under a cloud since late last year, after Mr Miles directed Mr Sullivan to take leave until "legal and medical matters" were resolved.
Speaking after the caucus meeting, Mr Miles said the motion, which was seconded by deputy leader Cameron Dick, passed with the support of all MPs, except Mr Sullivan.
Mr Miles said he would now request the administrative committee of the Labor Party to remove Mr Sullivan's endorsement as a Labor MP.
He accused Mr Sullivan of failing to comply with a "safe return to work plan" since he returned to his duties as an MP earlier this year.
"That return to work plan was what you would expect to see in a return to work plan for somebody who had to take extended leave for personal and health matters," Mr Miles said.
Mr Miles, who was flanked by Mr Dick and senior MPs Grace Grace and Shannon Fentiman, said Mr Sullivan would cease to have any rights as a member of the state parliamentary Labor Party.
Asked if Mr Sullivan could possibly make a return to the Labor caucus, Mr Miles said he considered the matter "final".
"He will, if he chooses to, be an independent member of parliament and obviously can determine for himself how he votes on matters," Mr Miles said.
"There has been a long process here, and the caucus has taken an unprecedented step."
Mr Miles said Mr Sullivan addressed the meeting, but would not say what he told the assembled group of MPs.
In a statement, Mr Sullivan said the premise of Mr Miles's motion was "completely untrue".
He also branded it a "cheap political move" that was personally hurtful and against the principles of the Labor Party.
"I complied with every requirement placed on me, and more, and that was articulated to the leadership team in detail," Mr Sullivan said.
"I am Labor to my core. I have bled for this party since I was a teenager, including being a campaign director at federal, state and council levels, and working in opposition for a team of just seven MPs, winning back government in one term.
"I will continue to represent my Labor branch members who preselected me and my beautiful community who elected me twice as a Labor MP."
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