Queensland MP Billy Gordon has threatened to take court action over domestic violence allegations after police announced there was not enough evidence to charge him.
Gordon was stood down from the state’s Labor party, which governs in a hung parliament, by the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, in March when his criminal past was revealed.
Palaszczuk said she would not reinstate the MP after police announced there was not enough evidence to press charges against him over domestic violence allegations made by his ex-partners.
Gordon said he was considering his legal options in a statement to media on Friday but was not clear if he would take action against his ex-partners or media outlets which published the story or others involved in making it public.
“I will be considering all legal options that can be taken against individuals who have been involved in these vicious and vexatious charges against me and what effect they will have on my future ongoing work as the member for Cook,” he said.
“I remain committed to the Palaszczuk government and continue to have great confidence in the premier’s leadership and her government’s courage and credibility.”
On the day police announced domestic violence charges would not be laid against the MP, a woman was charged with extortion after allegations Gordon sent her an explicit text.
“A 50-year-old Smithfield woman has been charged with one count of extortion following a police investigation into a complaint,” a police spokesman said when asked about the reports. “She will appear in the Cairns magistrates court on 9 October.”
Palaszczuk did not sack Gordon over the domestic violence allegations, though they had been made public at the time, but because he had told her in a meeting there were no further police matters she had to be made aware about.
It then came out he had a string of convictions dating back to the 1980s for breaking and entering, theft, breaching probation, public nuisance, breaching bail conditions and driving offences and Gordon was stood down for not revealing them.
Asked if she had acted too quickly in sacking Gordon, Palaszczuk said on Friday: “No, not at all, there was complex series of events, I stand by my decision. Billy Gordon now sits as independent member of parliament and he will continue to do so. He will continue to advocate for his electorate.”
Asked if she had spoken to Gordon since police announced charges would not be laid, Palaszczuk said “no, why would I?”
The statement from Queensland police about the domestic violence allegations said its investigation had been completed.
“After careful consideration of the investigation and legal opinion, it was determined there was insufficient evidence to lay charges in relation to these allegations,” it said.
“Additionally the grounds do not currently exist for police to progress any application under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 for a protection order.”
