Robert Messenger
Encyclopedia
Robert Desmond Messenger (born 26 October 1962) is an Australian politician. He is currently a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
representing the Electoral district of Burnett
. He was originally a member of the Queensland branch of the National Party of Australia
, becoming a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland when that party was formed from the union of the Queensland branchs of the National Party
and the Liberal Party
in 2008. He resigned from the LNP in 2010, and became an Independent.
and through his own small business was chosen by the National Party to re-take the traditional safe seat of Burnett
in the 2004 Queensland election. Burnett had been lost to the ALP
in the 2001 Queensland state election. Messenger succeeded in winning Burnett from the Labor candidate Trevor Strong, managing a swing of 4.3%.
He was re-elected in 2006 with an additional swing of 4.7%.
, an experienced surgical nurse, distressed about one of the surgeons at the Bundaberg Base Hospital
where she worked. She had previously consulted with hospital management with no success.
As a result of a long discussion with Hoffman, he named Jayant Patel
under Parliamentary privilege
. Messenger first raised the matter in Parliament on March 22, 2005, for the protection of patients at the Bundaberg Base Hospital intensive care unit and the wellbeing of the medical staff.
Shortly afterwards it was discovered by Courier Mail
journalist Hedley Thomas that Patel had previously been charged with misconduct in the United States
.
Patel's activities subsequently came into the public arena and he eventually became the central figure in the "Dr. Death" scandal which resulted in a Commission of Inquiry.
On 8 February 2007 Messenger was censured by the Queensland Parliament for a sarcastic comment made to the Premier over the scandal.
MP Aidan McLindon
resigned from the LNP to sit as Independent
s, claiming that the party had become victim to "flawed political process".
Shortly afterwards it was revealed Messenger and McLindon were under party scrutiny, with Messenger's travel claims raising some concerns. Messenger denied that he had done anything wrong and called upon the LNP president Bruce McIvir to resign.
Messenger has campaigned for a sex offenders register that would allow parents to protect their children from known sexual offenders.
In June 2011, Messenger indicated interest in joining the newly formed Katter's Australian Party
if his policy demands were met, including a ban on Sharia law in Australia, and an increase in military numbers.
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
representing the Electoral district of Burnett
Electoral district of Burnett
The district of Burnett is an electoral division of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in central Queensland, Australia.It covers most of the coastal region south of Gladstone, as well as coastal and inland regions around Bundaberg. Towns within its boundaries include Miriam Vale, Agnes Water,...
. He was originally a member of the Queensland branch of the National Party of Australia
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
, becoming a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland when that party was formed from the union of the Queensland branchs of the National Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
and the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in 2008. He resigned from the LNP in 2010, and became an Independent.
Political career
Messenger, who had worked as an electrician both in the RAAFRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
and through his own small business was chosen by the National Party to re-take the traditional safe seat of Burnett
Electoral district of Burnett
The district of Burnett is an electoral division of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in central Queensland, Australia.It covers most of the coastal region south of Gladstone, as well as coastal and inland regions around Bundaberg. Towns within its boundaries include Miriam Vale, Agnes Water,...
in the 2004 Queensland election. Burnett had been lost to the ALP
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
in the 2001 Queensland state election. Messenger succeeded in winning Burnett from the Labor candidate Trevor Strong, managing a swing of 4.3%.
He was re-elected in 2006 with an additional swing of 4.7%.
Bundaberg Hospital Scandal
In 2005 Messenger was approached by Toni HoffmanToni Hoffman
Toni Ellen Hoffman received the 2006 Australian of the Year Local Hero Award for her role as a whistleblower in informing Queensland Politician Rob Messenger about Jayant Patel a surgeon who was the subject of the Morris Inquiry and later the Davies Commission. She originally began to raise doubts...
, an experienced surgical nurse, distressed about one of the surgeons at the Bundaberg Base Hospital
Bundaberg Base Hospital
Bundaberg Base Hospital is the public hospital of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.A base hospital is a regional centre that takes referrals from outlying hospitals, and concentrates specialised skills. Australia has a universal publicly funded health insurance scheme, so a 'public' hospital is one...
where she worked. She had previously consulted with hospital management with no success.
As a result of a long discussion with Hoffman, he named Jayant Patel
Jayant Patel
Jayant Mukundray Patel , referred to as Doctor Death is a surgeon who is at the centre of a 2005 scandal in which he was accused of gross incompetence while working at Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia...
under Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
. Messenger first raised the matter in Parliament on March 22, 2005, for the protection of patients at the Bundaberg Base Hospital intensive care unit and the wellbeing of the medical staff.
Shortly afterwards it was discovered by Courier Mail
The Courier-Mail
The Courier-Mail is a daily newspaper published in Brisbane, Australia. Owned by News Limited, it is published daily from Monday to Saturday in tabloid format. Its editorial offices are located at Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner northern suburbs, and it is printed at Murarrie, in Brisbane's...
journalist Hedley Thomas that Patel had previously been charged with misconduct in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Patel's activities subsequently came into the public arena and he eventually became the central figure in the "Dr. Death" scandal which resulted in a Commission of Inquiry.
On 8 February 2007 Messenger was censured by the Queensland Parliament for a sarcastic comment made to the Premier over the scandal.
Resignation from LNP to sit as an independent
In May 2010, Messenger and BeaudesertElectoral district of Beaudesert
-External links:*...
MP Aidan McLindon
Aidan McLindon
Aidan Patrick McLindon is an Australian politician. He was first elected for the seat of Beaudesert to the Queensland State Parliament for the Liberal National Party of Queensland at the 2009 Queensland Election...
resigned from the LNP to sit as Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
s, claiming that the party had become victim to "flawed political process".
Shortly afterwards it was revealed Messenger and McLindon were under party scrutiny, with Messenger's travel claims raising some concerns. Messenger denied that he had done anything wrong and called upon the LNP president Bruce McIvir to resign.
Messenger has campaigned for a sex offenders register that would allow parents to protect their children from known sexual offenders.
In June 2011, Messenger indicated interest in joining the newly formed Katter's Australian Party
Katter's Australian Party
Katter's Australian Party is a registered political party in Australia. It was formed by the independent Federal Member of Parliament Bob Katter with a registration application lodged to the Australian Electoral Commission on 3 June 2011...
if his policy demands were met, including a ban on Sharia law in Australia, and an increase in military numbers.