Queensland premier says he learned of minister's AFP referral through the media
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said he learned that Olympics Minister Tim Mander had been referred by the electoral commission to the Australian Federal Police through the media. Mander has stood aside, but the situation is keeping concerns alive over the Brisbane 2032 preparation timetable.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli told a press conference he first learned of the state electoral commission's referral of Olympics Minister Tim Mander to police through the media. Crisafulli said government processes will be reviewed and that a new pre-clearance mechanism for ministerial appointments will be considered.
Minister Mander has announced he is stepping aside; Public Works Minister Sam O'Connor will pick up his responsibilities on an interim basis. The referral is reported to relate to possible gaps in Mander's past election-period financial reporting. The Australian Federal Police has not commented publicly on the investigation's details.
Queensland's preparation programme for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics is treating 2026 as a critical stage for transport infrastructure, the athletes village tender and joint financing talks with the federal government. The opposition continues to criticise the Liberal-National coalition government over transparency, while business groups have called for stability and continuity in the ministerial team.
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