MP Michael Johnson was kicked out of the
LNP a fortnight ago .
Embattled MP Michael Johnson has accused the head of Queensland's Liberal National Party (LNP) of bullying and intimidation following his expulsion from the party.
In an extraordinary move and under the cover of parliamentary privilege, Mr Johnson claimed LNP president Bruce McIver asked him to resign from Parliament at the next election or "he would present certain material in his possession to the police".
Mr Johnson was kicked out of the LNP a fortnight ago for bringing the party into disrepute after he was accused of misusing his parliamentary resources.
But the new Independent Member for Ryan has denied the claims and has written to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to demand an urgent investigation into the matter.
"This culture of bullying and intimidation must have no place in any political party," he said.
"This culture of harassment and pressure must be stamped out of the Australian body politic.
"Individuals in political parties must not be laws unto themselves, as is evidently the case in my view, in the highest echelons of the LNP in Queensland."
In parliament he read from a letter he had sent to the head of the AFP, Tony Negus, in which he refers to two meetings he had with Mr McIver.
He says one of the meetings took place on February 25 and Liberal Party director Brian Loughnane was also present.
"During that meeting, Mr McIver expressed certain language towards me that I personally took to be extremely intimidating and of an entirely improper character," Mr Johnson said.
"During this meeting, Mr McIver called upon me in no uncertain terms to resign from the Federal Parliament at the next election. Otherwise, he informed me, he would present certain material in his possession to the police."
The Leader of Opposition Business, Christopher Pyne, tried to stop Mr Johnson in his tracks.
"I don't wish to interrupt my colleague, the Member for Ryan, but this is a very unprecedented use of indulgence," he said.
Mr Johnson proceeded to read from the letter, which also refers to a second meeting with Mr McIver and Mr Loughnane on March 11.
"It was at this meeting that Mr McIver produced an email off my parliamentary account for me to read," he said.
"He indicated to me that this was evidence of why his demand for me to resign from Parliament was justified.
"The means by which Mr McIver came to be in possession of this email has never been explained by Mr McIver, either to myself or to my lawyers.
"There is absolutely no doubt at all in my mind that Mr McIver's language and his conduct at both meetings was designed to bring enormous pressure upon me to resign my federal seat of Ryan from the Australian Parliament - directly and specifically against my wishes."
Mr Johnson told the Parliament he wants an urgent police investigation during which he would reveal further information.
"It is an act of political corruption upon the integrity of our democracy," he said.
The AFP says it is evaluating Mr Johnson's request.
In a statement, Mr McIver said: "At no time have I or any other appointed representative of the LNP suggest to Mr Johnson that he should resign from Parliament. Mr Johnson was told on several occasions that he should consider his position within the LNP."
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COMMENT: If Michael Johnson detests the LNP as much as his mouth seems to indicate,
it will be very interesting to see where he directs his preferences at this year's Federal
election, when he contests the seat of Ryan as an Independent. If he directs them to
the endorsed LNP candidate, then all his current ramblings will be regarded as nothing
more than froth and bubble.
PaulGTully@gmail.com
