June 08, 2010

Federal Election Poll Shock: Hajnal Ban may lose LNP endorsement after funds allegations

Hajnal Ban

Cr Sean Black and wife Cr Hajnal Ban

CourierMail.com.au

GLAMOUR candidate Hajnal Ban could lose her federal preselection, with the Liberal National Party ordering a new ballot after allegations emerged she mismanaged the funds of a 65-year-old man.

The LNP State Executive last night ordered a rerun of her hotly contested preselection for the seat of Wright, in which Ms Ban beat former federal Liberal MP Cameron Thompson and Gold Coast City Councillor Bob La Castra.

It's another blow for the LNP, which is still reeling from the May defections of MPs Rob Messenger and Aidan McLindon.

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal documents show the Adult Guardian suspended the Logan City councillor as the 65-year-old's financial power of attorney after $2.25 million from the sale of a house was deposited into an account.

Documents show the account was established while the man was in hospital for "confusion".

QCAT documents show an investigation by the Public Trustee of Queensland found ongoing withdrawals by Cr Ban that couldn't be accounted for, including one made after the suspension of her authority as attorney.

"The Public Trustee submitted that the attorney should not deal any further with the withdrawn funds and in the absence of an undertaking in these terms from the attorney, the Tribunal should make an order preventing the attorney from unrestricted dealing with the funds before the hearing of the application for the appointment of an administrator," QCAT documents state.

QCAT made orders Cr Ban produce records explaining the joint bank account's transactions.

Cr Ban yesterday denied any wrong-doing. "I've acted properly at all times and I can put my head down on a pillow every night with a clear conscience," she said.

"This is usual mudslinging before a federal election."

Earlier yesterday LNP president Bruce McIver said he'd asked for a "full report . . . on all the dealings we've had with Hajnal and on her legal position."

The Courier-Mail understands the man resides in a high-care facility.