Ex-Qld minister guilty of corruption | QLD News | Breaking News in Queensland

15th July 2009

Gordon Nuttall

FORMER Queensland government minister Gordon Nuttall has been found guilty of corruption.

The Brisbane District Court jury returned the verdict on Wednesday after deliberating for almost five hours.

The jury found the 56-year-old former Labor MP guilty of corruptly receiving a total of $300,000 from mining magnate Ken Talbot between 2002 and 2005.

He was also found guilty of receiving $60,000 on April 12, 2002, from businessman Harold Shand.

Nuttall was remanded in custody until sentencing on Thursday.

Nuttall, who sat in the dock on Wednesday for the first time since his arraignment, shook his head as the verdicts were read out.

Members of his family, sitting in the public gallery, burst into tears.

During the trial the jury heard Nuttall had been corrupt when he accepted the payments from Mr Talbot and Mr Shand.

Nuttall, who pleaded not guilty, took the stand last week to deny any impropriety, telling the court the money was "a loan between personal friends".

In his closing submission on Monday, crown prosecutor Ross Martin, SC, described Nuttall as a "method actor" who had tried to convince himself and the jury that there was nothing corrupt in his decision to accept the money from Mr Talbot and Mr Shand.

Mr Martin said Nuttall had justified his behaviour by claiming it was to fund property for his children but then said most of the money did not go to them.

Nuttall's defence barrister John Rivett told the jury his client had been completely open, honest and transparent when seeking and obtaining the money from the two men.

During her lengthy summing up this week, Chief Judge Patsy Wolfe told the jury Nuttall's guilt or innocence hinged on what he believed Mr Talbot and Mr Shand wanted when they gave him the money.

Chief Judge Wolfe said that Nuttall had acted corruptly if he received the money believing that the mining executives wanted him to influence government decisions.

The court was told it did not matter if Nuttall ever intended to actually carry out any favours.

The trial heard evidence from Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and former premier Peter Beattie.

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