Latest news with #JimmySullivan
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Exiled Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan tears up, raises voice in emotional state parliament address
An exiled Labor MP has broken down in Queensland parliament while defending himself over an alleged domestic incident last year. Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan was expelled from the Labor caucus last week, over what Opposition Leader Steven Miles said was a failure to comply with a safe return to work plan. The government moved a motion in parliament today, calling for Mr Sullivan to resign and the plan to be publicly released. The LNP has repeatedly questioned him and the Labor Party in recent weeks, making allegations in parliament that he was involved in an alleged domestic incident and went to court last year. In an emotional speech in parliament, and speaking for the first time as an independent, Mr Sullivan said the alleged incident was not violent, and involved swearing. "And those are why my legal team says they have never seen a matter dismissed so quickly." Mr Sullivan said at the time of the alleged incident, he was suffering from post-traumatic stress sparked by the birth of his second daughter, noting his first daughter had died. "I spiralled, I recognise that, and I put my hand up for healthcare," he said. Mr Sullivan said he remained committed to his former party and wouldn't be resigning, labelling the government "disgusting". "I'm Labor to my core, I don't apologise that I will only vote with the Labor Party," he said. "I will continue to represent my local branch members who pre-selected me and my local community who elected me.' In parliament, Mr Miles said removing Mr Sullivan from the Labor Party was "not a decision taken lightly". He reiterated that the Stafford MP had breached a safe return to work plan and that he would not release it due to containing personal and private information. Mr Miles went on to criticise the government's attacks. "The fact is that the LNP have been trying for some time to politicise this matter," he said. "Rather than do their jobs, the LNP want to play stunts and petty politics. It's time they get on with governing and get out of the gutter." Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie accused Mr Miles in parliament of a "complete lack of leadership". "When the government first raised the issues and the media did, with the member for Stafford, they denied, they again used all sorts of excuses, politicking, scaremongering about the member for Stafford, they protected him," he said. "Then we saw days and days and days, and the pressure build up, and all of a sudden they thought this would all go away just by getting him out of the Labor caucus. He said questions remained over the alleged incident. "The reason we take this issue so seriously, we believe, on this side of the House, the member for Stafford does not deserve to serve in this place," Mr Bleijie said. The government motion passed without a vote, but it did not compel Mr Sullivan to resign or the safe return to work plan to be released.
The Australian
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Australian
Queensland Labor MP ejected from party following alleged domestic violence incident
Queensland Labor has sensationally voted to eject embattled MP Jimmy Sullivan from the party after he faced court over an alleged domestic violence incident at his home the day after the October state election. The decision was made at an extraordinary and emotional caucus meeting on Monday, where the Member for Stafford was ousted in a unanimous move by party members, with only Mr Sullivan voting against the motion and later describing it as a 'cheap political move'. Opposition Leader Steven Miles said Mr Sullivan had failed to adhere to mandatory reporting as part of a return-to-work plan devised by the party after police withdrew the alleged DV civil court action. 'The Labor Party does and always has set a very high standard for our members of parliament,' Mr Miles said. 'In this case, we agreed on a safe return-to-work plan for Mr Sullivan. He hasn't complied with that plan, and as a result, we have sought caucus support to take this action. 'As you'll understand, many of these matters are personal in nature, and so there are limits to what I can discuss.' Police were called to Mr Sullivan's Stafford home, on Brisbane's northside, on the evening of Sunday, October 27, to a 'reported domestic violence incident', but no criminal charges were laid. Police withdrew civil court action against the right-faction MP in February. In a statement, Mr Sullivan said he would stay in parliament as a crossbencher to represent his Labor branch members and his 'beautiful community who elected me twice as a Labor MP'. 'The premise of the leader's motion was completely untrue,' he said. 'I complied with every requirement placed on me, and more, and that was articulated to the leadership team in detail in my return to work. '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. 'This is a cheap political move – one that is not just personally hurtful but also against the principles of our great party.' The LNP government ratcheted up the pressure on the Labor opposition over Mr Sullivan during the last sitting of parliament, as a domestic violence bill was introduced. The second-term MP was not sworn in for three months after winning his seat. He was welcomed back into the fold in February, but was absent from the most recent sitting week of parliament. His colleagues had privately expressed concerns about Mr Sullivan's relationship with alcohol, and in February he gave a 'personal explanation' to parliament about his absence. While he did not discuss the specifics of the allegations, he said the 'care and support' of medical staff at the Brisbane Private Hospital meant he was 'a better dad and a better husband'. Queensland ALP state secretary Kate Flanders said the party's admin committee met on Monday night and withdrew the party's endorsement for Mr Sullivan. It is understood Labor MPs believed Mr Sullivan had stopped seeking treatment for his problems with alcohol and other issues stemming from the death of his daughter, who was stillborn in April 2019. Politics Anthony Albanese has used his post-election ministerial shake-up to shaft longtime factional rival Tanya Plibersek and promote close ally Murray Watt to finalise Labor's contentious nature-positive reforms. Politics Disability advocates have slammed Anthony Albanese's move to shift the National Disability Insurance Scheme to Mark Butler and the broader health portfolio.
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Queensland Labor expels MP after LNP raises domestic violence allegations
Queensland Labor has voted to expel one of its members from caucus in a move labelled 'unprecedented' by the state party's leader, Steven Miles. The member for Stafford, Jimmy Sullivan, was subsequently ejected from the Labor party entirely on Monday night, after a meeting of its administrative committee. The vote to remove Sullivan from Labor's caucus came after allegations of involvement in a 'domestic and family violence incident' were raised by the Liberal National party in parliament. The MP responded to his expulsion in a defiant statement on Monday night, labelling it a 'cheap political move'. Labor MPs voted to kick Sullivan out in an extraordinary caucus meeting on Monday, with all MPs but Sullivan himself backing the motion put forth by Miles. The opposition leader subsequently claimed the MP had failed to comply with a 'safe return to work plan' after taking extended leave from parliament. Caucus also voted to refer Sullivan to the party's administrative committee for potential dismissal from Labor. On Monday night, the committee decided to expel him from the Labor party. Allegations have swirled around Sullivan since media reports last year that police were called to his home on 27 October last year. No charges were laid. It was the day after Sullivan was re-elected as the member for Stafford. Amanda Camm, the Liberal National party government's minister for the prevention of domestic violence, told parliament on 30 April that Sullivan 'was involved in an alleged domestic violence incident' and described him as 'an alleged perpetrator of domestic and family violence'. Labor says that legal matters involving Sullivan were dismissed by a magistrate in their entirety. The MP took four months' leave from late October and returned to work in February. The motion to dismiss Sullivan was moved by Miles and seconded by his deputy, Cameron Dick on Monday. At a brief press conference at parliament, Miles said Sullivan had been set a 'safe return to work plan' for the MP. It included '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', Miles said. That included keeping the party and the parliamentary leadership informed about his health status at regular intervals. 'He hasn't complied with that plan, and as a result, we have sought caucus support to take this action,' Miles said. Miles said Sullivan had not provided any updates 'for some time'. He said 'party elders' and others in Labor had tried to convince him to 'take an appropriate course of action'. He said Sullivan could now choose to remain an MP on the cross-bench or resign. 'The Labor party does and always has set a very high standard for our members of parliament,' he said. Sullivan said the premise of Miles' motion was 'completely untrue'. 'I complied with every requirement placed on me, and more, and that was articulated to the leadership team in detail in my return to work,' he said. 'This is a cheap political move - one that is not just personally hurtful but also against the principles of our great party. I will continue to represent my Labor branch members who preselected me and supported me and my beautiful community who elected me twice as a Labor MP'. Labor has come under sustained pressure from the LNP government over Sullivan. At parliament's last sitting, Camm accused deputy leader Dick of running a 'protection racket' for the MP. But Miles denied politics had anything to do with his decision on Monday. Asked if Sullivan could regain the trust of the party, Miles said 'as far as I'm concerned, this is final'. 'There has been long process here, and the caucus has taken an unprecedented step. The support for this motion was unanimous, other than the member for Stafford, and has the effect of expelling him from the caucus.' Sullivan attended the meeting, which ran about 20 minutes, Miles said, and spoke in his own defence. The son of Terry Sullivan, who served as member for Stafford from 2001 to 2006, Sullivan has held the seat since 2020. The Guardian understands Sullivan intends to serve out his term. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
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."
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Steven Miles says Jimmy Sullivan has been expelled from Labor caucus
Steven Miles says Jimmy Sullivan has been expelled from Labor caucus after he moved a motion at a meeting on Monday.
