Labor has asked the Queensland parliament to investigate an allegation that the MP Jim Madden used taxpayer funds to purchase artwork for a former girlfriend.
The Ipswich West MP is yet to respond to the allegation, published by the Australian, that he spent taxpayer money on a $125 butterfly artwork for his then-girlfriend Sarah Grist at a school charity auction in September 2018.
According to the Australian, Grist said that by November 2018 Madden had asked for it back.
“He elaborated about it being bought accidentally on the wrong credit card, so it was bought with public funds on his office card, and with the spotlight on that sort of stuff, he needed it back,” Grist was reported as saying.
Queensland Labor’s state secretary, Kate Flanders, said she had referred the allegations about the artwork to the parliamentary clerk as she personally has “no ability to check receipts or look at” the issue.
The state premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, expressed concern about the accusation but she would wait for the outcome of the investigation before commenting further.
“We’ll receive the outcomes of that investigation. Hopefully they’ll be completed before next week,” Palaszczuk told reporters on Tuesday.
Palaszczuk would not confirm whether Madden would be stood down from his role on the regional industries committee or whether he would attend state Labor’s caucus meeting next week.
Guardian Australia has contacted Madden for comment.
Madden is also under fire from former staff members David Stone and Alison Young in the same media report, who alleged they were bullied by him.
Young lodged a formal complaint with Labor, but the party chose not to expel Madden after a party investigation in February that found he had breached 22 party rules.
Flanders said none of the findings met the threshold for Madden to be kicked out of the party and that he had denied the bullying allegations.
“They were findings where perhaps their workplace relationship was not what it should be,” Flanders said.
“We are undertaking some proactive training with Jim about how to create and ensure there is a safe and productive work environment.”
Flanders also confirmed Madden had engaged a lawyer after news reports but said the Labor party would not be paying the fees.
“Jim has participated faithfully in all of the processes that we have put to him,” she said. “And I think he has done that … consistent with his record of public service and being upfront with us.”
