Queensland Parliament Deputy Speaker Bill D'Arcy, under heavy pressure from Premier Peter Beattie, has stepped down from his position pending an investigation by the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC). The Commission is conducting an inquiry into Parliament's decision to grant Gocorp Pty Ltd a license to operate an online casino.
Beattie warned D'Arcy Thursday that he would try to have him removed from his position when Parliament resumed on August 17. D'Arcy initially resisted Beattie's demands, but caved amid heavy criticism for his ownership interest in a company that holds 20 percent of Gocorp.
"I welcome Mr. D'Arcy's decision, he has accepted my advice and done the right thing," Beattie said.
Beattie, however, didn't welcome D'Arcy's decision to proceed with a trip to a conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Trinidad and Tobago. Speaker Ray Hollis said he would investigate whether State Parliament could stop the trip. D'Arcy's attorney, Terry O'Gorman, advised his client to step aside, but did not advise against attending the conference. "He's obligated to attend that conference," O'Gorman said.
D'Arcy represents the second Labor Party casualty since the scandal erupted in Late July. Treasurer David Hamill stepped aside from his position August 1 pending an investigation by Auditor-General Len Scanlan.
Beattie, who is the Acting Treasurer, has also dealt with calls for his resignation. According to the Opposition, a memorandum, sent by his Chief of Staff Rob Whiddon, suggests that Beattie knew about D'Arcy's involvement with Gocorp prior to last year's State election. In the memo, Beattie requested that the Treasure's office "urgently have an appropriate staff member discuss Internet gambling with Bill D'Arcy, who has raised some concerns with him."
Meanwhile, the CJC has selected Robert Gotterson QC to handle the Gocorp investigation, which began this morning. Gotterson said it would be impossible to determine how long the inquiry will take.