Disgraced Leftist minister still being protected



Queensland minister Gordon Nuttall resigned last night after an official report questioned his integrity, forcing Premier Peter Beattie to face his fourth reshuffle in nine months. Despite being the highest-profile casualty of the Dr Death scandal, Mr Nuttall insisted he had been a good minister who had paid the price for taking on the "poisoned chalice" of the health portfolio.

In July, Mr Nuttall told a budget estimates committee he had never been briefed about problems with overseas-trained doctors, but was contradicted by then Queensland Health deputy director-general John Scott. Confronted next day with evidence showing he had been briefed, Mr Nuttall claimed to have misunderstood the question from the committee.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission released its report into the affair yesterday. raising the question of Mr Nuttall's evidence being "knowingly false" and called on parliament to decide whether he should face contempt of parliament proceedings, which carry a maximum fine of $7000, or criminal prosecution for lying to parliament, which carries a seven-year jail term.

Mr Beattie, who had already demoted Mr Nuttall to the primary industries portfolio, will recall parliament tomorrow and is expected to convince Labor MPs to vote against any criminal prosecution and possibly even the contempt proceedings.

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