Queensland Cowboy Politics

The Queensland (Australia) Liberal Party has been caught up in a bribery scandal after an independent MP yesterday alleged she had been offered a $50,000 inducement to join the Liberal/National Coalition.
Responding to a question in Parliament, Ms Roberts (Independent MP for Gympie) alleged that the Liberals had offered her repeated inducements over a lengthy period of time, and singled out a senior party figure who allegedly offered the $50,000 bribe.
Liberal leader Bob Quinn would not return calls last night but through a spokesman denied the allegations. Liberal Party state director Geoff Greene insisted the allegations were "completely false".
The Australian political scene is still in transition from a sordid past. Queensland’s reputation just happens to be enriched by a measure of approval by its citizens for political waywardness. Queenslanders have, seemingly, applauded a robust, if shady, approach to government over the years.
Times have changed, following inquiries, prosecutions and a serious effort to clean up the system. Still, it seems, old habits die hard.
But there is a noticeable difference now, in the way things are conducted. The alleged offer is standard fare. What is different is the response. Having been accused, and with three investigations into the allegations under way, Liberal leader Bob Quinn has actually denied the charges.
Quinn confirmed that he had held talks with Roberts in the lead-up to a Coalition agreement being signed with the National Party in late September. But Quinn insisted yesterday that he had not offered Ms Roberts any bribe or inducement, or sought to pressure her, and would defend his reputation.
That beats the hell out of the old, arrogant – So what? You see, these people, in the past, could not even se the wrong in manipulating the electorate. It was cowboy rules all the way; if the electorate didn’t complain too much anything was fair.
Roberts, a product of a short lives party from the ‘wooly’ right, is also a new breed of politician in that state, more in the amateur class. Roberts said:

"…Quinn kept telling me that I couldn't win my next election and, because Peter Beattie was on the nose, the election would be polarised and no one would vote for an independent and my only chance was to be with a party."

Although there appears to have been a benefit to her to take the bribe and play the game, she responded with a righteous indignation in the end. That is not to say that she was clear about how to deal with the issue.

"I have a number of, at least 15 people, who I spoke to about that and who are prepared to sign *stat decs about the amount of money.
"There was another amount of $10,000 for polling as well. I kept putting him off. I never gave him a response because I didn't know what to do."

If Roberts is right, and can prove the fact, Quinn adds lying to Parliament to to accumulating sins.

"At no stage was any inducement of any kind offered to the Member for Gympie. I absolutely repudiate any suggestion that involved offering $50,000.
"My position is absolutely clear, I completely repudiate any claim that I've engaged in any kind of inappropriate or corrupt behaviour."

Again, that is not new or unusual in that state. However times are changing and the old ways are passing. The right to rule, by any means available, is even becoming obsolete in Queensland.

* For readers not familiar with Australian terms; stat dec or statutory declarations is a form of affidavit. This instrument is in effect, a sworn statement which is accepted which is equal to giving evidence under oath.