Crisafulli backs minister after learning of AFP referral from media

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has backed his Olympics Minister, and refused to be drawn on broader cabinet reshuffle questions, after Tim Mander stood down following a referral to police the premier learned of through media.

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” but there had been “issues in terms of communication” of the matter.

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.

Powell said he was confident taking on Mander’s portfolio, but Powell not discuss how long he expected he might remain in the role.

“I’m the major events minister – you don’t get much more major event than the Olympics, so I’m keen to keep delivering, and I’m excited about where we’re going in the future,” he said.

The premier said he was alerted to the police referral by a government staffer at midday on Thursday after the news broke, at which time he was in a budget meeting. Mander was on a flight from New Zealand at the time.

Mander had been told about the investigation on Wednesday night, after which time he emailed with his lawyers to arrange a detailed update on Thursday – by then, the AEC had already given a statement in response to media questions.

While state laws allow MPs to be enrolled to vote in their electorate despite not living there, federal laws do not – and include criminal offences for providing false or misleading information.

Mander has previously denied wrongdoing and insisted he made the correct disclosures.

Deputy opposition leader Cameron Dick said Mander stepping aside was the right call, but questioned the timeline of when the premier would have found out about the investigation.

“I mean seriously, he premier expects Queenslanders to believe Tim Mander couldn’t be bothered ringing when he had been referred to the Australian Federal Police?” he said.

“At a time of extreme cost-of-living pressures and extreme housing pressures, the government is paralysed by its own internal crisis.”

The former NRL referee and state Scripture Union chief executive, first elected to his Brisbane seat of Everton in 2012, has faced intense recent scrutiny over the intersection of his private life and public role.

The matter escalated last month, after The Australian reported Mander and his partner – Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm – had disclosed a joint property purchase to cabinet colleagues. This followed disclosure of their relationship in July last year.

Mander had separated from his wife of many years in April 2025, and is reported to have spent time living in parliamentary accommodation. While MPs can do so for official duties, unrelated stays are required to be declared under fringe benefits tax requirements.

Last month it was reported Mander had been enrolled to vote at the Arana Hills rental home of his electorate officer – but was not recognised by neighbours.

Earlier this month, Mander said the Arana Hills property was his principal place of residence between early January and late March.

Mander and the Whitsunday-based Camm say they were in a relationship from June 2023 to May 2024, then “reconnected” in June 2025.

After reporting on a June 2025 letter to Crisafulli by Mander’s sister-in-law that raised concerns about the pair’s use of public funds during what was described as an at least two-year relationship, questions widened to include whether they had disclosed their earlier affair on being sworn in.

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