UPDATE
Annastacia Palaszczuk is faced with deciding the fate of a Labor MP who failed to disclose his criminal history - and her decision could also determine the future of her government.
A crisis meeting held at Labor's South Brisbane headquarters on Saturday to decide the future of Cook MP Billy Gordon found the member had failed "to appropriately disclose" his criminal history.
Mr Gordon has since added a statement to his Facebook page, outlining his past.
"Throughout my life I have had to overcome many challenges and adversities. In particular as a young indigenous boy," he said in the statement.
"I remember wishing as young person that I had grown up with a 'normal' nuclear family. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.
"Growing up I remember spending a lot of time wanting what other kids had, like shoes, bikes, footballs etc.
"One of the things that I do remember wishing for the most, even into my years as a teenager, was for a perfect father figure, especially since as a young man I also had serious contact with the criminal justice system.
"This contact has included being charged and convicted with:
• Breaking entering and stealing in 1987 in Innisfail
• Breaking and entering with intent, attempted breaking and entering and stealing in 1990 in Atherton
• Breach of probation in 1992 in Atherton
• Public nuisance in 1996 in Normanton and
• Breach of bail conditions in 1999 (stemming from not attending a court summons from the 1996 incident).
In addition I have twice had my driver's licence suspended for unlicensed driving (2004 and 2008).
"Finally, in 2008 I was served with an Apprehended Violence Order as a result of a complaint by my mother.
"My mother at the time was concerned that I was going to return to a relationship with an ex-partner (we were at said ex-partner's residence) and I asked her to leave in a manner that she found threatening.
"My mother has confirmed to me that there were no allegations of physical violence made with respect to this incident.
"This AVO was never heard in court, and does not form part of my criminal record however I provide its details now for completeness."
Ms Palaszczuk, who demanded full disclosure from Mr Gordon on Saturday, said she would consider how to move forward with the information Mr Gordon had presented.
She referred the member to police after allegations he had domestically abused his former partner became public, on Friday.
But with Labor only holding power with the support of independent MP Peter Wellington, any action could see the government under serious threat of losing its majority, just two months after taking office.
Ms Palaszczuk, who is in Townsville for community cabinet, will front media just after lunch on Sunday.
"I have made it very clear that I am extremely disappointed these issues were not previously disclosed at the relevant time," she said.
"I am considering the information provided to the party president and secretary and will be making further comment later today."
Full statement from Billy Gordon:
I want to firstly apologise to the people of Cook, the Premier and the ALP for failing to appropriately disclose parts of my criminal history.
Over the last couple of days details of my personal life have been made public.
Issues ranging from failure to lodge tax returns, failure to pay appropriate child support and most significantly allegations of domestic violence.
I have worked hard to rectify outstanding taxations and child support issues.
In relation to allegations of domestic violence the Premier has referred this matter to the Queensland Police Commissioner for investigation.
I welcome this investigation and will provide it with full cooperation.
The last couple of days have been a tremendous strain on my family and I. I have been extremely concerned about my children throughout this period as any father would be in this situation.
Throughout my life I have had to overcome many challenges and adversities. In particular as a young indigenous boy.
Growing up in a family that had its challenges and was far from perfect where both my mother and father struggled daily to keep the family together and put the basics in the household.
I remember wishing as young person that I had grown up with a 'normal' nuclear family.
Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Growing up I remember spending a lot of time wanting what other kids had, like shoes, bikes, footballs etc. One of the things that I do remember wishing for the most, even into my years as a teenager, was for a perfect father figure, especially since as a young man I also had serious contact with the criminal justice system.
This contact has included being charged and convicted with:
• Breaking entering and stealing in 1987 in Innisfail
• Breaking and entering with intent, attempted breaking and entering and stealing in 1990 in Atherton
• Breach of probation in 1992 in Atherton
• Public nuisance in 1996 in Normanton and
• Breach of bail conditions in 1999 (stemming from not attending a court summons from the 1996 incident).
In addition I have twice had my driver's licence suspended for unlicensed driving (2004 and 2008).
Finally, in 2008 I was served with an Apprehended Violence Order as a result of a complaint by my mother.
My mother at the time was concerned that I was going to return to a relationship with an ex-partner (we were at said ex-partner's residence) and I asked her to leave in a manner that she found threatening. My mother has confirmed to me that there were no allegations of physical violence made with respect to this incident.
This AVO was never heard in court, and does not form part of my criminal record however I provide its details now for completeness.
I recognize that my own personal circumstances are no excuse for my non disclosure, however from this troubled and fractured past I've managed to piece together a positive and constructive life. That includes serving in the Army Reserves (51st Battalion), volunteering with the Foundation for Young Australian as Facilitating their Indigenous Youth Leadership forum and working for Reconciliation Australia as the organisations Education Officer, before being elected to the Queensland Parliament.
EARLIER
Labor heavyweights have held a emergency meeting, as the two-month-old Palaszczuk Government attempts to deal with a crisis which could lead to the balance of power tipping against it in the Queensland Parliament.
Fairfax Media can reveal the party executive gathered at Labor's Peel Street headquarters on Saturday for a marathon meeting to discuss the future of Cook MP Billy Gordon, amid claims of a "cover up" from the Opposition.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who campaigned on a platform of integrity and accountability, was forced to refer allegations Mr Gordon abused his former partner to police on Friday evening, after claims contained in a letter her office received last week were made public.
A police spokesman confirmed an allegation of domestic violence had been referred to them by the Premier.
Channel Nine reported Mr Gordon has been accused of punching and kicking his former partner.
Fairfax Media understands Mr Gordon had told his party the abuse had been verbal.
A government spokesperson said the Premier asked ALP President and State Secretary to meet on Saturday with the Member for Cook, and demand full disclosure from Mr Gordon.
With numbers in the Queensland Parliament on a knife-edge, Labor, which came to power following the January 31 election with the support of independent MP Peter Wellington, is hamstrung.
While it can dis-endorse Mr Gordon, an option Fairfax Media understands has been discussed, Labor needs every number it has in the house to remain in power.
But Ms Palaszczuk, who intervened during the election to strip a Labor candidate of his pre-selection after claims of "inappropriate" behaviour towards a female colleague became known, vowed integrity and accountability would be "cornerstone principles" of her government.
By failing to address the domestic abuse claims, the Opposition claims Ms Palaszczuk has "failed" her first accountability test.
Mr Gordon's former partner had written to various MPs for help in getting Mr Gordon to pay child support, a claim which was made public on Friday morning by News Corp.
In response, Ms Palaszczuk told parliament she was "absolutely furious" when she learnt of the matter and had ordered Mr Gordon to "get his house in order", adding that she expected the "highest standards" from her MPs, but that the matter had been dealt with.
Labor State Secretary Evan Moorhead had been dispatched to help rectify the child support situation on March 18.
In an attempt to head off further controversy, Mr Gordon made a personal statement to Parliament on Friday, admitting to failing to pay child support to his former de-facto after their relationship ended badly.
"There were times when both of us failed to behave as adults should, and I certainly bear full responsibility for my actions," he said.
But the letter had also contained allegations of domestic abuse, which neither Ms Palaszczuk or Mr Gordon mentioned in their explanations to parliament.
In her letter referring the allegations to Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Moorhead had encouraged the woman to go to the police if she believed it necessary.
But it wasn't until the allegations were published on a website linked to former LNP MP Gavin King, that Ms Palaszczuk acted.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg accused Ms Palaszczuk of a "cover up".
"The issue here, is the Premier claims accountability, proclaims integrity, proclaims openness, but when it came to her first question in Parliament yesterday, she failed the accountability test because she didn't level with Queenslanders," Mr Springborg said.
One Labor source said the party was "struggling" to find a solution.
"We all know what happened to Gillard when she stood by Craig Thompson when all these allegations were flying around and she won't want to lead a government with that hanging around her neck, she knows what it can do," he said.
"But the numbers in the parliament mean the government could turn on a dime. It has not left us with a lot of options."
Just one month ago, the Palaszczuk Government accepted a report on domestic violence from former Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Ms Palaszczuk and several of her MPs spent the morning of their first day in parliament listening to the stories of domestic violence survivors.
Ms Palaszczuk and her minsters will spend the next two days in Townsville for community cabinet.
