‘Up to the AFP to test that’: Crisafulli backs benched Olympics Minister

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has backed his Olympics Minister, and refused to be drawn on questions of a broader reshuffle of his cabinet, after Tim Mander stood down from his portfolio duties following a referral to police.

The Australian Electoral Commission revealed on Thursday that it had referred Mander to the Australian Federal Police due to an “absence of compelling evidence” he was living where he had been enrolled to vote.

Mander’s move marks the first significant change to the Crisafulli LNP cabinet since it was sworn in after the October 2024 election, and comes after Labor referred him and other government figures to the corruption watchdog.

Asked at a brief Friday morning media conference if Mander had lied to the electoral commission, Crisafulli said the minister had “assured me he has been truthful and now it’s up to the AFP to investigate”.

Crisafulli said he hoped police would prioritise the matter, but would not be drawn on whether a wider, more permanent reshuffle of his cabinet was needed, with Andrew Powell taking on Mander’s Olympics, sports and racing portfolios in addition to environment, tourism, science and innovation.

“He has stood aside, he has made the right call,” Crisafulli said. “Mr Mander has assured me he has done nothing wrong, now it’s up to the AFP to test that.”

“The matter is now being investigated by the AFP, and I assure you, at the end of it, I will make a decision based on what the AFP says and what happens during that process.”

Crisafulli said he would focus on the “next very short window” to determine whether he would permanently appoint Powell into Mander’s portfolios.

“It’s only been 24 hours, I would be very surprised if the AFP didn’t understand the significance of it and the need to do that swiftly.”

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