Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Harassment claim sickening: Frecklington

Allegations against a Queensland MP facing expulsion from his party made his leader’s skin crawl when she heard them, she says.

January 31, 2019

Queensland LNP leader Deb Frecklington says Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan doesn’t have the morals to be in the party and allegations that could see him expelled made her skin crawl.

Ms Frecklington told reporters on Thursday the serious complaint against Mr Costigan relates to his conduct towards a teenage girl while he was on holidays.

“As a mum of three girls I can tell you, it made my skin crawl … the allegation makes me feel sick,” the Liberal National Party leader said.

Mr Costigan has been suspended from the LNP and is expected to be expelled when the party’s executive meets on Friday.

It follows a complaint from the young woman’s family to police in another state about Mr Costigan’s behaviour, Ms Frecklington said.

“Mr Costigan doesn’t have the morals and the values to be part of my team,” she said.

Despite the LNP only hearing of the allegations a week ago, the matter has already come before the LNP disputes committee, who found the MP’s conduct breached the party’s constitution and recommended his expulsion.

Mr Costigan has not responded to AAP’s request for comment but denied the allegations to The Courier-Mail.

“This is a stitch-up of the highest order,” he said.

Ms Frecklington refused to describe the complaint.

But The Courier-Mail says it has seen an email detailing claims the MP left an 18-year-old woman “traumatised by his revoltingness”.

The email describes how the teenager arrived at her grandparents’ house, where Mr Costigan was reportedly staying while travelling, and found the shirtless MP only partially dressed.

“His behaviour from that point was extraordinary,” the paper said, citing the email complaint.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there had been concerns about Mr Costigan’s conduct for a number of years.

“For the LNP to take that action they must have been very serious,” she said.

Mr Costigan raised eyebrows last year when he posted a video online to mark World Bikini Day. It featured him standing alongside two women in their swimwear.

At the time, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad responded by calling the MP a “sleazebag” while he dismissed criticism as “political correctness on steroids”.

Ms Trad on Thursday said after that incident people contacted her office to share their concerns about his behaviour.

“I don’t think sharing them in a public format like this without consent is appropriate … (but) a number of people did contact my office, fathers of young girls as well as women who had approached Mr Costigan in electoral matters in the past,” she said on Thursday.

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