Olympics minister wins clearance to return after probe
Queensland’s Olympic minister is back at the starting line, reclaiming her Games portfolio, just weeks after being sidelined by a federal election registration inquiry.
Tim Mander has stood down as the Australian Federal Police consider guidance from the Australian Electoral Commission regarding an employee’s decision to register to vote at home at a time when his more than 40-year marriage was ending.
Prime Minister David Crisafulli confirmed Mr Mander had been cleared by the Australian Federal Police.
“On arrival in Far North Queensland last night, I received an update from Minister Tim Mander finding that the AFP investigation was on track and that the allegations against him were unfounded,” Mr Crisafulli said in a statement on Thursday. he said.
“I will say this again: The allegations have been proven to be false. He remains a minister. He returned to work today.”
The Liberal National Party frontrunner was already under pressure over his undisclosed relationship with Families and Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm.
Labor referred the matter to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission due to potential conflicts of interest linked to Olympic venues, community donations and constituency funds.
At the time, Mr Mander insisted he had followed the “correct processes” and welcomed the AEC’s guidance as a way of refuting what he called a “baseless smear campaign”.
He wrote to the state election watchdog about registering at a staffer’s home and has since registered at a permanent address with Ms Camm outside his electorate, saying he was following Queensland’s rules allowing MPs to register in their own seat even if they live elsewhere.
Mr Mander said he did not want the controversy to distract from the government’s work and would stay on the sidelines while the AFP considered further steps.
He has now resumed his ministerial duties as Olympic minister and is expected to address the media on Thursday.
Mr Crisafulli used the AFP finding to attack his political opponents, arguing they must now explain their role in amplifying the allegations
”Since the allegations have turned out to be false, it would be great if those who made the allegations today, especially the Leader of the Opposition, stood up and commented on this,” he said.
”You can’t cry over and over again without feeling responsible. “There’s now a shopping list of allegations (serious allegations) that have been proven false over and over again.”
