Premier digs in as ‘love story’ sparks integrity war
Robyn Wuth |
A political “love story” has exploded into an integrity war, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli under siege over what he knew, when he knew it and whether his cabinet is compromised.
Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm’s on‑again, off‑again romance with fellow LNP frontbencher Tim Mander has engulfed the cabinet, the Integrity Commissioner and even Olympic venue deals.
Standing in front of plans for a gleaming new Brisbane 2032 stadium and green precinct at Victoria Park on Thursday, the premier was grilled about the affair, conflict‑of‑interest rules and a formal integrity complaint rather than selling his flagship Olympics project.
“They had to declare it under the ministerial code of conduct, and both ministers came to me, and then they updated the cabinet,” Mr Crisafulli said, adding that all ministers had been required to see the Integrity Commissioner.
Both ministers admit starting a relationship in opposition – before breaking up in May 2024, then rekindling it weeks later – and insist Mr Crisafulli was told each time.
Queensland Labor wants a blow‑by‑blow timeline and is demanding to know whether voters were kept in the dark before the October election.
Mr Crisafulli refused to spell out dates, drawing a hard line between his ministers’ private lives and their official obligations.
“Upon coming to government, they’ve got a ministerial code of conduct, and both of them have assured me they’ve conducted themselves appropriately and have done the declarations at the appropriate time,” the premier said.
“If people have information that they believe shows that that wasn’t the case, I will act. But there’s been a lot of finger pointing and no one has come forward with that information.”
He confirmed he received a June 27, 2025 letter from Mr Mander’s sister‑in‑law raising serious concerns about breaches of the code of conduct.
“I will not go into people’s private lives. I just won’t do that. I didn’t do it against the Labor Party, and I won’t do it now,” Mr Crisafulli said.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie went on the attack, accusing Labor of “salacious” smears and “rewriting history”, warning that if the opposition wanted to open the door on “who was sleeping with who” in government, the LNP would happily walk through it.
On claims Olympic sailing was steered to Ms Camm’s Whitsunday electorate, he said it had “nothing to do with Tim Mander”, insisting he and the Games authority made the call and branding any suggestion of romantic interference “completely fabricated and wrong”.
Mr Crisafulli conceded it had been “a pretty tough patch” for everyone involved, but rejected calls to expose every detail of the affair.
“You’re asking me to hold two people to a standard that no one’s been held to before,” he said.
Both Ms Camm and Mr Mander have faced the media to deny the allegations, insisting they followed the ministerial code and integrity advice.
“Have I done anything wrong? I’ve done some things wrong by my family, which I regret. But as a minister, I’ve done everything according to the code,” Mr Mander said.
The pair admit the saga has been brutal on their families, but are begging for privacy as they dig in.
They say they are focused on child safety, domestic violence victims and delivering Olympic promises, not defending their love life.
AAP