Health Minister Tim Nicholls wants to keep portfolio in event of cabinet reshuffle after ex-Olympics Minister Tim Mander stands down
Senior cabinet minister Tim Nicholls has revealed he wants to retain his notorious health portfolio if the federal police investigation into embattled colleague Tim Mander leads to a reshuffle of ministers in Queensland.
Mander, the state’s Olympic minister who was involved in a scandal that led to his departure from the cabinet on Thursday evening, is awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the allegations regarding the origins of this situation. registered to vote.
Prime Minister David Crisafulli, who learned of the AFP’s guidance through the media, rejected suggestions that the ongoing saga would force the LNP premier into his first reshuffle.
But if the government is forced into a change, Nicholls has said he wants to remain health minister, often referred to as the poisoned chalice given to political rivals.
“I want to keep my health, I’ve just started my health, so there’s a lot more to do here,” he said Saturday.
“We’re well on our way and I’m enjoying it.”
The Australian Electoral Commission said on Thursday it had referred Mander to federal police due to a “lack of compelling evidence” that he lived where he was registered to vote.
Nicholls said it was important that the AFP was able to conduct its investigation without comments from politicians.
“Look, it’s a serious situation right now and the matter has now been passed on to the Australian Federal Police,” he said.
“I think I would say that it is a great desire to see an outcome on these investigations as quickly as possible.”
The comments come as Crisafulli continues to support the Olympic minister and questions about a wider cabinet reshuffle will not be answered this week.
Crisafulli told reporters on Friday that the minister had assured him that he was “telling the truth”, but when asked whether Mander had lied to the election commission, he said there were “communication problems” on the matter.
The Prime Minister learned that his minister had been referred to the police after a government official warned him about it when the news broke. Mander was on a flight from New Zealand at the time.
State law allows lawmakers to register to vote even if they don’t live in their voter districts. However, federal law does not and does include the crime of providing false or misleading information.
Mander denied any wrongdoing and insisted he made the correct disclosures.
The revelations about the investigation proved to be a testing time for Crisafulli’s government and came after Mander and Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm were referred to the corruption watchdog over their romantic relationship.
Nicholls said the government remained focused on its priorities.
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Cloe Read is the Brisbane Times’ crime and courts reporter.Connect with: X or email.
