Qld: Lergal bid to seize former minister Nuttall's home

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2007
Qld: Lergal bid to seize former minister Nuttall's home

By Jade Bilowol

BRISBANE, Feb 19 AAP - The Queensland government has launched a bid to place a freeze
on disgraced former state health minister Gordon Nuttall's Brisbane home.

Lawyers for the government today submitted an application to the Supreme Court in an
attempt to prevent any sale of Nuttall's Sandgate home in the northern bayside area.

If successful, the move would enable Nuttall to live in his colonial home but he would
not be allowed to sell it.

Nuttall's lawyer Michael Byrne requested the materials submitted by the government be suppressed.

He argued publication of the documents could prejudice criminal proceedings against his client.

Nuttall, who retired last year, has been charged with 35 counts of corruptly receiving
payments totalling $300,000 from businessman Ken Talbot between October 24, 2002, and
September 28, 2005.

Nuttal has maintained his innocence, as has Talbot who also faces charges over the matter.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) widened its investigation of the former MP
last week, raiding several properties connected to him.

Nuttall's Brisbane home, a holiday home at Woodgate near Bundaberg and his father-in-law's
home, also at Woodgate, were reportedly raided, as were the homes of former Queensland
Health senior official Geoff Stevenson, and the home of his friend Graham Doyle.

Talbot, the founder of Macarthur Coal - Australia's biggest locally owned coal miner
- has been charged with making 35 corrupt payments to Nuttall.

Crown lawyer Delma Osbourne today said she neither supported nor opposed the defence's
request for a non-publication order.

Judge Martin Moynihan acknowledged publication of the materials could impinge on Nuttall's
right to a fair trial.

"We are talking about jurors ... the risk is they will be tainted in their decision,"

Justice Moynihan told the court.

"There is factual material which, for example, is capable of giving a potentially false
air of authenticity ... particularly in this bundle of material."

Lawyers for Queensland Newspapers also appeared in court, arguing for the order not
to apply to their client.

Justice Moynihan invited submissions from the parties concerned and adjourned the matter
until tomorrow morning.

AAP jvb/pjo/ks/cdh

KEYWORD: NUTTALL

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