Ex-Qld minister guilty of corruption

(AAP) - Former Queensland government minister Gordon Nuttall is spending his first night behind bars after being found guilty of receiving secret commissions.

Nuttall shook his head in disbelief and steadied himself against the dock as the
Brisbane District Court jury pronounced him guilty 36 times as each of the charges
were read out.
The jury found the 56-year-old former Labor MP guilty of corruptly receiving 35
payments totalling $300,000 from mining magnate Ken Talbot between 2002 and 2005.
He was also found guilty of receiving one $60,000 payment on April 12, 2002, from
businessman Harold Shand.
After the verdict was handed down, Nuttall's barrister John Rivett made a plea for
his client to be given bail until his sentencing on Thursday, so he could have a
"night for the family".
But Chief Judge Patsy Wolfe denied the request, agreeing with prosecutor Ross Martin
SC's submission that "the ordinary rules should apply to everybody".
As Nuttall was led from the dock he paused for one last embrace with his pregnant
daughter Lisa, who sobbed uncontrollably in her father's arms.
Nuttall has repeatedly maintained his innocence, electing to give evidence in his
own trial that he had done nothing wrong by accepting the money in what he called "a
private arrangement between personal friends".
The court was told Nuttall had approached Mr Talbot and Mr Shand for money to help
fund his "life plan", which was designed to buy property for his children.
However, the court was told the children received less than half of the $360,000
paid to Nuttall by the mining executives.
The court was told Nuttall tried to hide his corrupt receipt of the money by failing
to declare it in the parliamentary pecuniary interests register.
Premier Anna Bligh and former premier Peter Beattie both gave evidence during the
trial that Nuttall had never declared a conflict of interest in cabinet meetings
when matters relating to Mr Talbot and Mr Shand were being discussed.
Mr Beattie, who appointed Nuttall a minister in 2001, told AAP he felt betrayed.
"He betrayed my trust and there can be no excuses," Mr Beattie said.
"I am embarrassed that these events happened while I was premier.
"My government was an honest government and while Gordon Nuttall didn't get away
with his corrupt behaviour, his actions will be forever a black mark on my
government's record."
Ms Bligh, who gave evidence during the trial, declined to comment.
Qld's deputy opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said Mr Nuttall's behaviour was
"symptomatic of a Labor government that has been in power for almost all of the last
20 years, where they believe anything goes and its members lack moral compasses and
moral judgment."
Mr Springborg said Premier Anna Bligh had co-sponsored a motion four years ago with
Peter Beattie to exonerate Nuttall of contempt of parliament over evidence he gave
to an estimates committee hearing.
"Is it any wonder that after that first exoneration and a pat on the back from Anna
Bligh that he felt anything would go.
"Gordon Nuttall's behaviour is a window to the world of the Bligh government and how
to do business in Queensland," Mr Springborg said.
Opposition deputy whip Rob Messenger said Mr Nuttall was involved in decision-making
for the state at the highest level for at least five years as a cabinet minister.
"Now that Nuttall has been found to be officially corrupt it must now cast doubt
over the integrity of that whole decision-making process and that is very sad. It's
sad for Queensland," Mr Messenger said.
Nuttall repeatedly denied ever having offered anyone political favours for money,
saying he had no capacity to do so.
"Nothing was asked, nothing was offered, nothing was given," he told the court.
However, Mr Martin told the jury that Nuttall had shown favour to Mr Talbot and Mr
Shand by sitting in a cabinet that granted mining leases to their companies, and by
arranging for them to meet relevant key government figures.
Mr Martin said Nuttall's entire defence unravelled when he slipped up during
re-examination and admitted "nothing is for nothing".
"He revealed that he understood that in this life people don't give you $360,000 for
nothing," Mr Martin said.
"He said 'nothing's for nothing' without realising that he'd just undermined his
whole case."
The jury appeared to agree, taking less than five hours to reach their verdict.
Nuttall will return to court on Thursday morning for sentencing.
Mr Talbot and Mr Shand both face criminal charges over the matter.