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CMC allegations of relationship between Beattie and Rose
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The Queensland Opposition has referred to the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission serious allegations relating to attempts to conceal a relationship between then-Premier Peter Beattie and his Tourism and Racing Minister Merri Rose. In May 2007, Rose was sentenced to eighteen months gaol for attempting to blackmail Beattie. She was released after three months. There was considerable speculation at the time about the nature of Rose’s blackmail threat. Yesterday, Nationals frontbencher Rob Messenger wrote to the Crime and Misconduct Commission with allegations from a former Rose staff member that Rose forced staff “to shred official documents, sign off on invalid overseas and intrastate trips, schedule unofficial business and official business and process false parliamentary leave requests to conceal a relationship between former Premier Peter Beattie and Merri Rose.” Read the full letter here.
The allegations were made by Ms Barbara Daddow, Rose’s former personal secretary, who died in May 2006. Daddow prepared an extensive statement relating to the activities she was required to undertake for Rose, which Crikey has seen, along with Messenger’s letter. Daddow’s statement alleges extensive bullying and offensive behaviour by Rose, as well as repeated requirements to falsify documents facilitating and concealing meetings between Beattie and Rose. The material does not suggest that Beattie ordered any illegal or inappropriate activities or even knew of efforts to conceal the relationship. However, efforts to bring Rose’s behaviour toward staff and others to the attention of the Premier’s office and Beattie’s chief of staff, Rob Whiddon, were unsuccessful. Crikey understands that the material was brought to Messenger’s attention by another former Rose staff member in the context of a Parliamentary debate over the right of public servants to speak to MPs. Ms Daddow’s statement indicates that her role in assisting Rose to conceal the relationship, as well as Rose’s behaviour, placed enormous pressure on her. The stress is considered by a former colleague to have directly contributed to her death. The statement said in part: “Many times in the lead up to my breakdown I told the Minister I was finding it difficult to handle the demands of the workplace and the additional work that I had to carry out as a result of being ‘the only person’ who could manage her relationship with the Premier and other liaisons. I also realised that I had been instrumental in many illegal and corrupt activities. “I had to shred documents, sign off on invalid overseas, inter/intrastate trips, scheduled unofficial business as official business, process false parliamentary leave requests so that she could meet with the Premier on Parliamentary evenings. He also filled in parliamentary leave forms for fictitious functions for her to represent him so that they could meet on Parliamentary evenings.. I found it offensive, immoral and unethical that so many people in public office were so unaware that staff such as myself were being imposed on.” Rose was appointed Emergency Services minister in 1998-99, Minister for Tourism and Racing from 1999 to 2001, and later Minister for Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading. There were repeated allegations that Rose bullied staff, and two successful compensation claims against her. She lost her seat of Currumbin in the 2004 election, after which she demanded that Beattie provide her with a high-paying public sector position. The statements seen by Crikey paint a sad picture of a woman wholly out of her depth and incapable of managing her staff or her life. This dysfunctional minister’s office inflicted a massive toll on Daddow, as well as another staff member who has since died. The real story here is how a Premier could decide that a women like Rose was capable of performing effectively as a Minister – or whether her appointment reflected other motivations on the part of Beattie. |
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26 Comments
It is clear from Miranda’s factual article that Mr. Beattie had sexual relations with that woman, resulting in the death of her staff. He should be deported from California on the same plane as Dr. Patel.
The track record of Mr Messenger has been less than constructive in the past. Does Mr Messanger have any answer as to how his letter to the CMC came to be published on this site. Mr Messanger would perhaps better serve the voters of Queensland if he were able to shed some light on who the sitting member is that attacked his own father knocking him to the ground.
If Beattie is so innocent why did he not allow the details of the reason Rose was gaoled to be released.
Does anyone else find it incredible that a person can be sentenced to gaol but we’re not allowed to know why? Only in Queensland where we have a ‘fully open and accountable government’.
Except for hundreds of FOI restrictions and Beattie’s (when Premier) allowing politicians to lie in parliament.
Now why would he do that?
crikey is just getting into the gutter with the tabloids. The only writer so far who seems to make sense is Greg Barns and his always expert take on the law. I’d rather read David Flint. At least he provides amusement.
to Keith Bedford, you just don’t know how well Rose plays the “Pink piccolo” she ain’t called Merri for nothing.
Gee Miranda’s a funny chook. Last night her feathers were all ruffled over the colour of Mrs Della Bosca’s face that ‘will never be red’. What an insightful call? No. It would undoubtedly be purple or ashen by now. And tonight Crikey’s gone gutter - failing to deliver a Greg Barns soother or David Flint funny. Er…can we suggest patience Miranda or just the Tele or Courier online - sort of more your style.
So Merri Rose was released from prison on 30 August 2007 and a few short days later on 10 September 2007 Beattie resigned……coincidence or pressure!!!!!
Will we ever KNOW!!!!!!!! What a tangled WEB WE WEAVE WHEN WE PRACTICE TO DECIEVE!!!!!
Anyone who thinks the CMC is going to attack ther Labor party believes in the Easter Bunny. They are a Labor Party housekeeping unit who sweep embarrasing issues under the carpet after whitewashing them. Until organisations like the CMC are truly INDEPENDENT of the prevailing Govt they are just a sham. The head of the CMC is Labor appointed. In my case in 2003, a CMC enquiry had such narrow terms of reference they could never have dealt with the true corruption that occurred. Laws were broken, processes corrupted, new laws applied retrospectively, Police reports of our innocence ignored and I identified a massive abuse of process - but, the CMC found no evidence of any wrongdoing because their terms of reference precluded such a finding. Modern Governments appoint their own people to every strategic position of power. They do it so they can attack their enemies and protect their friends. And it works! Don’t expect too much from the Merri Rose issue.
Everyone who commented here forgets SHE WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS Beattie got away with it,you can’t tell me that he didn’t know what she was doing,he would have had to falseify things too so they could meet, and where is ANNA BLIGH ??off overseas on a Trade Mission to the Trade Commissioner IN America to get a breifing from Beattie what to tell the press,Anna Bligh leaves the country two days before this story broke,?Beattie has taught her well,buzz off overseas before bad news breaks…He should be held accountable too.IT TAKES TO TO TANGO…..
Crikey! Massive scoop. Who knew Peter Beattie ‘had a relationship with’ Geoffrey Rush?! That’s his photo on the Crikey home page, isn’t it?…
The Beattie/Rose saga has for many years had great and many opportunities for sensitive media analysis. But this time Crikey has it right. This is an incredibly sad story of human beings losing their lives (in many ways) because of yet another era of skewed Queensland politics. Who on earth elevated Rose beyond a backbencher if she was ever meant to be there in the first place. As an instrument of the ALP with Beattie at the helm Rose spun out of control and if he’d been the quintessential politician as the ALP will have you believe he was, Beattie showed no insight on Rose. He ignored all the signs over many years - at what cost and for what reason? Her staff went down like nine-pins, two died, he found himself compromised as a Premier and no one, not even the parliamentary administration bothered to launch even a human resource inquiry. Something is fundamentally dysfunctional within a state’s parliamentary executive when it consistently delivers creepy, oppressive cultures. It’s time for another Fitzgerald.
Peter oh Peter. As you famously said when Jeff Kennett was mulling over a return to politics…”Why?’.
I can only now ask you the same question with regards Merri Rose…”Why Peter, Whyyyyyyy”. You must have got a bad bump on the head leading up to that one.
Its this an exercise in the irrational? An MP resurrects a political crisis that involved a Premier who got blackmailed by a colleague, an MP. The Premier is allowed to keep the nature of the crime secret but the blackmailer gets sent to jail. Taxpayers funding the blackmailing MP’s rehab or penance aren’t even allowed to know the cause of the reparation or crime that they’re paying for. They should, it’s their money. A Government crime commission clears the Premier as does a court - so both legal bodies should explain the nature of the crime and why they made their decision because taxpayers fund these processes too. Frankly in all of this - the only person to come out of the mirky sleeze is the Premier. And he seems to have been up to his neck in either innocent or culpable ‘stuff’. You can’t have it both ways. Who in this day and age passes through a legal or crime authority process without registering either the nature of the crime or allegation or the outcome of the suppressed events? There is without doubt a huge question mark over this Premier who walks in and out of courts and crime commissions like some sort of ghoul. It’s chilling. If a PM was doing this sort of thing he’d be buzzard pickings by now. But this guy Beattie is some sort of political Harry Houdini …whose ultimate demise by the way resulted from taking too many risks. Can history repeat itself.
Crikey!
Check out http://www.thehenryreport.com for the latest. Its a new Australian-Drudge like website.
It’s ok everyone lets not panick - he must have used viagra.
This is the most stupid piece of title tatle that I hve ever heard. Beaties wife is a good looking and sensible person. Beatty is alo sensible so why would he do this. Meri Rose was appointed to the Ministry by Caucus and the type of positions Beatty gave her shows his opinion of her ability. This would have broken when Meri was charged if her defence council tought it had any legs. The National Party unfortunately have never accepted the Fitzgherald enquiry’s findings about Joe even though a very decent one of their own put the enquiry in motion. I think the whole idea is harebrained and I hope the rest of the National Party do not get involved.
you really have to feel for the good people of Burnett, Springborg and really question the confidence of the Nat/Liberal merger when the Qld Nationals present clowns like Messenger to represent them …
This guy has appalling form as a parliamentarian, and needs to go back to his former job as radio talkback hack.
Honestly? what has any of this trash and innuendo got to do with progressing or representing a region so desperately in need of a good member of parliament.
I could not imagine in my wildest nightmares, the sight of stumpy Peter (pumpkin-head) Beattie, bonking a woman…
The sight would put me off sex forever… plus food, plus wine, in fact life itself….
Even the thought of it makes me cringe…
I recon he’s a three stroke screamer…
Dear Keith,
Re; “Beaties wife is a good looking and sensible person. Beatty is alo sensible so why would he do this.”
do you think this is a good reason to disbelieve this story? Not everyone is turned on by beauty - and sometimes you don’t even have to look…..Let’s face it Beatty is no oil painting either……
If Beattie is so innocent in all of this- why did he not only resign but leave the country before this came out??
Well who would Believe Merri Rose Doing something unethical and CRIMINAL!!!!! Peter didn’t know his boy from Bulimba was a Bully, He didn’t know the Boy with the ROSe in his lapel was on the take, Etc Etc.
He probaly didn’t know he was having a relationship with unethical Bully….Can you tell me what sort of relationship was that………Will he use the infamous Clinton Line…..or will he take FULL RESPONSIBILITY !!!!
Oh Anna I had sooooo much admiration fand respect for you But please you can’t have been there and NOT KNOWN!!!!!!
The past few months have played out like a Tennis Grand Slam. The who’s who of the party elite in a play-off for dead-set political disgrace. At state and federal level we score love (bugger all) for three to four years until we get to call the shots. In other words society, communities and the public are aced on getting an instant resolution to poor play. How pathetic to have to use such simplistic terms but with the likes of Beattie, Rose, Della Bosca, Orkopoulos, Neal …oh..and Buswell it’s clear that only kindergarten analogies can be used to draw simple conclusions. This country’s collective governance IQ has been benchmarked at an all time low thanks to the shift from an apolitical merit public service to a party-ravaged one.
Is there anything more substantial than allegations? How about a spotty dress or something? The lady in question seems less than desirable in more ways than one. The only possible witness is dead, so you have the perfect beat-up.
It ain’t over till it’s over Cathy. This is just the beginning of the great Iguana scandal. Score one goes to a revolting media campaign in which crikey is as guilty as the other tabloids of pushing rumour, gossip and innuendo but bot one single fact or piece of evidence. If that’s what crikey readers regard as good reading then they have a problem. This site should retitiled crikey tips and rumours dot com.
ps: When you quote me do it correctly-I said when the whole matters over there will red faces and Della Bosca’s won’t be one of them. It’s hardly even begun.
Has anyone considered the hypocrisy of Beattie and Rose in damning the Conservatives ’ Work Choices’ policy that the two must have followed like a text book. Would anyone in their right mind work for a politician after reading the Della Bosca, Orkopoulos, Sniffer Buswell, Belinda Neal etc documentaries. Last question - has something gone horribly wrong with political parties and their choice of who represents them and now US???? You’d be safer in Guantanamo Bay than any government.
I asked for federal intervention into that which falsely claims to be “The Queensland -Australian Labour Party” (it is really the Queensland solicitors/developers/grog pushers/gambling pushers, Party) but my requests fell on deaf ears, when all the muck comes to the surface Federal Labour will pay a heavy price.