An under-fire minister has stood down from cabinet over a federal electoral enrolment probe, plunging a state government deeper into an integrity storm.
Queensland's Olympics Minister Tim Mander was already facing a political firestorm over his undeclared romance with cabinet colleague Amanda Camm.
The senior Liberal National Party figure has now been reported to the Australian Federal Police after enrolling to vote at a staffer’s home amid the breakdown of his 40‑plus year marriage.
The Australian Electoral Commission confirmed it had referred the matter to federal police on Tuesday after being unable to find compelling proof he lived at the address where he was registered to vote.
Mr Mander told Premier David Crisafulli late on Thursday he would step down as minister while federal police decide whether to launch a full-blown probe. Mr Crisafulli said he became aware of the electoral commission's advice at lunchtime and had accepted Mr Mander's decision.
A defiant Mr Mander hit back at the Labor opposition, accusing them of mounting a “baseless smear campaign”.
"I welcome this next critical step in the process towards disproving Labor’s attacks," he said in a statement.
“I referred this matter myself and provided information as requested, so it could be proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have followed the right processes and all appropriate declarations and disclosures have been made."
He said he had "total confidence" the matter would be resolved.
"However, I have no intention of this becoming a distraction to the important work of the government and so this afternoon I advised the premier I am standing aside today as minister while this is being sorted.”
Labor said Mr Mander had no choice but to leave cabinet and must remain on the sidelines while federal police consider the case.
“Every member of parliament has a duty to be up front and honest with Queenslanders about where they live and where they’re enrolled to vote – that’s one of the most fundamental obligations we have,” deputy opposition leader Cameron Dick told reporters on Thursday.
“If Queenslanders can’t trust Tim Mander to be honest about where he lives, how can they possibly trust him with the Olympics and the other responsibilities of high office?”
The electoral commission said it had sought information regarding the matter, including an opportunity for Mr Mander to provide information to support his enrolment claim.
“While a determination has not been made, the AEC does consider that there is currently an absence of compelling evidence to determine Mr Mander resided at the enrolled address," ” a spokesperson told AAP.
“As such, on May 19 the AEC referred this matter to the AFP for their consideration, and any action they consider appropriate.”
Mr Mander has blamed personal upheaval following his marriage breakdown and a period of shuffling between friends' houses after revelations he enrolled to vote at a staffer's home.
He had told parliament that he had written to the state election watchdog about the matter and had now enrolled at his permanent address with Ms Camm outside his electorate while insisting he was fully compliant with the rules.
Under state legislation MPs are entitled to be enrolled in their electorate despite not living there.
However failure to be properly enrolled is a commonwealth offence that carries a maximum 12‑month jail term.
Mr Mander was already feeling the heat over his undeclared relationship with Ms Camm, the Families and Child Safety Minister.
That matter has been referred to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, alleging potential conflicts of interest were not properly disclosed or managed as the government signed off on Olympic venues, community grants and funding linked to the pair’s electorates.
Premier David Crisafulli, his chief of staff Richard Ferrett, Mr Mander and Ms Camm are all named in the complaint.
The government has warned that mischievous or reckless corruption complaints can themselves be an offence and insists it has complied with integrity rules.
The AFP will decide whether to open a formal investigation into Mr Mander’s enrolment. In the interim Andrew Powell will step into the role of Olympics minister.
