In a blistering turn of events, newly-elected Liberal Party member for Braddon Adam Brooks has resigned just hours after the declaration of the polls.
The sequence of events appears to be:
Wednesday night – Queensland Police (see statement below) raid in Redcliffe, an outer northern suburb of Brisbane.
Thursday 3pm – final distribution of votes in Braddon, in which Brooks is fifth-elected.
7pm – Adam Brooks notifies Peter Gutwein of intention not to take up a seat in the new parliament
Friday morning – Premier Gutwein announces the news of Adam Brooks decision (see below).
The Premier mentions that Brooks would send a letter to the Governor notifying her of the resignation.
Queensland Police issue their statement regarding the charges.
Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 14 May 2021
Statement on Adam Brooks
Last night just after 7pm I spoke with Adam Brooks by phone.
Mr Brooks advised me that he is interstate where he is being supported and undertaking treatment for his own mental health.
He explained to me that he is currently very unwell but in a safe environment.
Last night in that conversation he also provided me with new information regarding his circumstances.
He told me that he left Tasmania on Wednesday to take a break and seek treatment in Queensland.
Last night he also informed me that yesterday he was visited by the Queensland police and subsequently charged with firearms offences and also in relation to a matter relating to a document, and that he has been bailed to appear in court.
Mr Brooks advised me that he is seeking legal advice and intends to defend himself against these new charges, however due to his state of health and the need to focus on his own personal circumstances, it is his intention not to take his seat in the Parliament and to forward his resignation to the Governor today.
I have agreed with him that this is the only appropriate course of action under the circumstances.
I understand that there will now be a recount for this vacant seat in Braddon which I fully expect will result in another Liberal member being elected.
Media release – Queensland Police, 14 May 2021 10:54am
Weapons offences, Redcliffe
Detectives from Moreton District have charged a 45-year-old Tasmanian man following investigations into alleged weapons offences.
Information provided to police last week resulted in the execution of a search warrant on a Marine Parade address in Redcliffe on Wednesday night where it will be alleged a handgun and false driver’s licences were seized.
The 45-year-old man has been charged with one count each of unlawful possession of Category H weapon, unauthorised possession of explosives and dealing with identity documents.
He is expected to appear in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 18.
Investigations are continuing with further charges expected.
ABC: Tasmanian Liberal Adam Brooks charged by police over firearms offences, resigns from Parliament
Controversial Liberal candidate Adam Brooks will not take his seat in the Tasmanian Parliament and has been charged by Queensland police with being in possession of a handgun, unauthorised explosives and false driver’s licences.
Premier Peter Gutwein made the announcement shortly before the polls were due to be declared following the May 1 state election.
Mr Gutwein said he spoke with Mr Brooks on Thursday evening, when Mr Brooks disclosed he had flown to Queensland and was seeking treatment for his mental health.
“Last night he also informed me that yesterday he was visited by Queensland police and he has subsequently been charged with a firearms offence and also in relation to a matter relating to a document,” Mr Gutwein said.
Transcript of media conference with Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor, Bellerive, 14 May 2021.
Cassy O’Connor
The Premier’s announcement today of Adam Brooks’s resignation on the day that he would have effectively been elected raises a number of questions. When did Mr. Gutwein know that there were police charges pending? Why did it take until the day that Mr. Brooks was due to be elected for his resignation to be announced? And if I was a voter in Braddon, I’d be asking these questions, but I’d also have a feeling that the Liberal government has treated your vote with contempt. The Liberal Party made a decision to pre-select Adam Brooks/ The Premier has stood by him every step of the way, despite serious allegations being made about Mr. Brooks, and then the day that the polls are declared, we discovered that Mr. Brooks has resigned. There’s a whole lot of questions here that Mr. Gutwein needs to answer.
Journalist – Judy Augustine
Were the red flags there and could this mess have been avoided?
Cassy O’Connor
The red flags were absolutely there because during the campaign, we heard that Mr. Brooks was under investigation for ammunition storage offences. And then we learned that there were at least two women who claimed they’d been catfished by Mr. Brooks using a false identity. So the red flags were there from the beginning, and yet Mr. Gutwein stood by Mr. Brooks until all those votes had come in in Braddon. And then the day the polls are declared, we learned that Mr. Brooks is resigning. This raises huge questions.
Journalist – David Killick
Has the government effectively achieved its majority based on a lie through a vote-harvesting exercise using Brooks as a front man?
Cassy O’Connor
You could certainly form the view that Mr. Gutwein has scraped in with a narrow majority on the back of Mr. Brooks’s votes. And you could form the view that it was very convenient for the Liberals to ignore Mr. Brooks’s transgressions and his character failings throughout the campaign until the day that the polls that are declared and the final votes have been counted. It stinks. It’s dodgy, and Mr. Gutwein owes the people of Tasmania a proper explanation rather than once again, trying to hide behind a mental health issue. There is the mental health to consider of the women who’ve come forward who say they were misled by Mr. Brooks, under the alias Terry. This is very serious. We have now a whole election result, on the day that the polls are being declared, being brought into question because one of the highest vote-getters in Braddon has resigned on the day that the polls have been declared despite the fact the Liberal Party knew he was a questionable candidate from the very beginning.
Journalist – Will
Is a recount a fair way to decide Braddon now given what you think is a pretty cynical exercise by the government.
Cassy O’Connor
Well, we’re in a Hare-Clark system, so the way that the Mr. Brooks’s replacement will be determined is through a Hare-Clark recount, and we certainly will always support Hare- Clark and the way it rolls out as a fair, democratic system. But the unfairness here is in letting the people of Braddon believe that Mr. Brooks was a legitimate candidate. There are now very serious questions to answer about whether or not he was ever considered a legitimate candidate by the Liberal Party.
Transcript of media conference with Liberal Party Clark MPs Elise Archer and Madeleine Ogilve, Bellerive, 14 May 2021.
Elise Archer
Well I’m standing here with those of our Liberal team from Clark, Franklin and Lyons that could make it to the declaration of polls today, an important day for the Liberal government. A historic third election win for us and we couldn’t be prouder of our leader Peter Gutwein in taking us to an election and providing that strong leadership that Tasmania requires, and of course moving forward. I welcome Madeleine Ogilvie to our team. It’s wonderful to have Madeleine on board. And I want to thank our whole Clark team, actually, Simon Behrakis, Harvey Lennon and Will Coats for their strong efforts. And, of course, all of the candidates in all of the other electorates across Tasmania, their efforts have obviously elected a majority Liberal governments and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts as well.
Journalist – Will
One of your members won’t be taking his seat, Adam Brooks. Your reaction to that is…?
Elise Archer
Well I understand the Premier has issued a statement and that statement covers off on that issue.
Journalist
Do you think it’s the right call for him not to take his seat?
Elise Archer
Well, as the Premier has said he’s accepted that advice from Adam.
Journalist – Will
Do you think he should have been pre-selected?
Elise Archer
Well it’s not for me to say about pre-selection. The party pre-selects candidates,
Journalist – Judy Augustine
Are you surprised?
Elise Archer
The Premier has issued a statement on this matter.
Any questions for Maddie?
Journalist – Judy Augustine
Do you think Rebecca White should have shown up to this?
Elise Archer
Oh, look, I don’t know the reasons why some candidates can’t make it. We had some of our candidates that couldn’t make it. I know that people live all across the state, particularly in the electorate of Lyons. So I wouldn’t really read anything into that sometimes people can’t make it to the declaration of polls.
Journalist
(inaudible)
Elise Archer
Well there is a process to go through now under the Electoral Act, there is a process that dictates what happens in relation to a recount. They need to advertise for those who wish to put their hands up. And that process from now be embarked upon.
Journalist – Judy Augustine
Do you admit this must mean a lot less stress for your party?
Elise Archer
Adam, I’m sure he’ll issue his own statement, the Premier has issued his statement. That’s all I need to say about that.
(Madeleine Ogilvie steps up to microphone)
Journalist – Judy Augustine
It’s been a very tight race in Clark. How did you feel when you finally got over the line?
Madeleine Ogilvie
It’s very exciting, and really exciting to be here. And as I’ve said, politics is a team sport. Without everybody out there working hard and gathering up those votes, we wouldn’t have got to this 13th seat, which is important for this government. At a personal level. I’m delighted and I’m really happy to be back at work and working with the people of Clark. We’ve made a lot of commitments to that I’m looking forward to delivering as well as part of the team. And I just couldn’t have been received more warmly by the Liberals and the Liberal voters, and I’m very, very grateful.
Journalist – Judy Augustine
Do you consider yourself to reason the government will have a majority?
Madeleine Ogilvie
No, look, the reason the Liberal government has a majority is because every single Liberal member is good at their job. They’re connected in their communities. They know what they’re doing. And they good at listening. Premier Gutwein led this government to a victory, a historic victory. He has true leadership skills and he’s quite a remarkable person. So credit to the leader, credit to the team. I’m just a small part of that team but I’m very grateful to be here.
Journalist
(inaudible) representing the issues that you care about as part of the one of the major parties?
Madeleine Ogilvie
Yeah, so look, on the ground, the issues that I’ve been working hard on – around traffic, roads, sporting facilities, women’s sport in particular, those sorts of grassroots issues that people really care about health, housing, all of those basic things that Clark so sorely needs. But what we did see this time and with my colleague, Elise, we had a great experience working together, delivering commitments to Clark in a way that we hadn’t seen before. So I think it was really important that that happens. We saw the response from the community they have elected two Liberals in Clark, a good result. And look, Elise and I have known each other for quite some time. We will be fabulous working together.
Tasmanian Times
Are you expecting to get a ministry in this government?
Madeleine Ogilvie
It is my expectation that Peter Gutwein will make decisions about all those sorts of things. From my personal perspective, I’m just happy to be back at work.
Journalist – Judy Augustine
Would you like a ministry?
Madeleine Ogilvie
Things can happen in the future, I’d like to just settle in, learn the ropes, really get to know my colleagues and make a contribution for the people of Clark. I won’t be putting my hand up for anything. I’m just happy to be at work, have a cup of coffee with my colleagues, get to know everybody, find a new office. I’m handing my office over to Kristie Johnston, she’s the next independent, give her a few tips, hand the keys over and work with my team on a very collaborative way.
Journalist – Judy Augustine
So you’ve gone Labor to independent to Liberal, what would you say to voters who will be sceptical about what you stand for?
Madeleine Ogilvie
Sure. Well, I think the voters came with me. So I think people understood that. And let me be straight. And this is a message to people out there who may be in a relationship or situation or work situation or club, where they don’t feel it’s working for them. It’s okay to make a change. I’m now over 50, I’ve reached a stage of my life where I really recognise that you get one life. A career is a movable thing. I learned so much from my former party, but I had a bad experience as well. I loved being an independent. And I did feel when Peter called that election – and like you I read it in the newspaper – that when that happened, I had a choice to make. And the Liberals reached out to me and I was very grateful. We decided that that was the right move to make.
Journalist – Judy Augustine
You haven’t been with the Liberals for very long. How would you compare the way you were treated to when you were in Labor?
Madeleine Ogilvie
Chalk and cheese is how I would compare it. But I will also say politics is a robust game. I learned a lot and I’ve learned a lot all the way through this process. But I have never felt such warmth as I felt by the Liberal Party membership in coming into this team, and I won’t let them down.
Journalist – Judy Augustine
You said bad experiences, what did you mean by that?
Madeleine Ogilvie
Oh, look, I think that’s all, you know, that’s past history. And that happened years ago And let’s not forget, I moved on years and years ago.
