Senior cabinet minister Tim Nicholls has expressed his desire to remain in the health portfolio, even if a potential reshuffle of Queensland ministers is triggered by the federal police investigation into his colleague, Tim Mander.
Mander, who serves as the state’s Olympics minister, has been involved in a significant scandal that led him to step down from the cabinet on Thursday evening. He is currently awaiting the outcome of an investigation concerning his voting enrollment.
Premier David Crisafulli, who first learned about the Australian Federal Police (AFP) referral through the media, has dismissed any speculation that this situation might lead to the LNP premier’s first cabinet reshuffle. However, if such a change were to occur, Nicholls has made it clear that he wishes to stay as the health minister—a position often seen as a difficult one, given its challenges and controversies.
“I’d like to stay in health, I’ve only just got started in health, so there’s plenty more to do here,” Nicholls stated on Saturday. “We are well down the path, and I am enjoying it.”
The Australian Electoral Commission revealed on Thursday that it had referred Mander to the AFP due to a lack of compelling evidence showing that he was residing at the address where he was enrolled to vote. Nicholls emphasized the importance of allowing the AFP to conduct its investigation without political interference.
“Look, the situation at the moment is a serious situation and the matter has now been put to the Australian Federal Police,” he said. “I think I would say that obviously there is a great desirability in seeing an outcome in regard to those investigations as soon as possible.”
These comments come as Crisafulli continues to support his Olympics minister and avoids commenting on broader questions regarding a potential cabinet reshuffle. During a press conference on Friday, the premier stated that Mander had assured him “he has been truthful.” However, Crisafulli noted that there had been “issues in terms of communication” when asked whether Mander had lied to the electoral commission.
Crisafulli discovered the police referral after a government staffer informed him when the news broke. At the time, Mander was on a flight from New Zealand.
Under state laws, members of parliament can be enrolled to vote in their electorate even if they do not reside there. However, federal laws do not permit this and include criminal penalties for providing false or misleading information.
Mander has denied any wrongdoing and insisted that he made the correct disclosures. The ongoing revelations about the investigation have placed the Crisafulli government under pressure, especially following the recent referral of Mander and Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm to the corruption watchdog over their romantic relationship.
Nicholls stated that the government remains focused on its priorities.
