Scott Driscoll

Driscoll was executive director and then elected president of the United Retail Federation. He oversaw the rebranding of organisation and expanded its membership footprint and political influence beyond Queensland and onto a national level.

Driscoll was elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2012 state election representing the Liberal National Party of Queensland in the Brisbane-area seat of Redcliffe.[1] He defeated Labor incumbent Lillian van Litsenburg with a swing of 15.67%, turning the previously marginal seat into a safe LNP seat.

Driscoll was the subject of complaints of official misconduct referred to the Crime and Misconduct Commission in November 2012, followed by complaints of fraud to the Queensland Police.[2][3] It was alleged that he secretly controlled the taxpayer-funded Moreton Bay Regional Community Association and had funnelled $2600 in consultancy fees each week to his wife. It was also claimed that he used his electorate office to continue his work with the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association, and that his wife had a contract with the retailers' body worth $350,000 a year. Although Premier Campbell Newman initially stood by Driscoll, he personally recommended that Driscoll be suspended from the LNP after concluding his failure to provide a "fulsome and precise" explanation of the affair had become a distraction.[4]

On 25 March 2013, he was suspended from the LNP.[4] After the LNP executive initiated proceedings to have him expelled from the party, Driscoll resigned from the party the following month and subsequently sat as an independent.[5]

His home was raided by the CMC in May 2013.[6] Driscoll's wife was charged with fraud and perjury as a result of the investigation.[7]

The misconduct allegations were referred to the Queensland Parliament Ethics Committee in June 2013.[8] While the committee's deliberations were underway, Driscoll more or less ceased attending parliament; he showed up for only a few sessions to avoid having his seat automatically declared vacant. This, combined with other factors, prompted Newman to demand that the legislature take the unprecedented step of expelling Driscoll. Annastacia Palaszczuk, leader of the Labor opposition, criticised Newman for his initial resolute support of Driscoll.[9]

On 19 November 2013, Driscoll was found guilty of 42 counts of contempt of Parliament, four counts of failing to register interests and one count of misleading the House. The Ethics Committee recommended that:[10][11]

• he be fined $84,000 for contempt;
• he be fined $4,000 for failing to register interests;
• he be fined $2,000 for misleading the House; and
• the Legislative Assembly move to expel Driscoll from the chamber and declare the seat of Redcliffe vacant "to protect the honour and dignity of the Legislative Authority".

The final report found that nothing short of expulsion was appropriate because Driscoll had, by his actions, "brought odium on the Legislative Assembly as an institution" and had demonstrated "a want of honesty and probity not fitting a Member of the House".[11] Newman said that Driscoll had committed a "breathtaking, staggering deception on this house and the people of Queensland".[12]

Driscoll resigned from Parliament later that day, citing health reasons.[13] However, both major parties had indicated they would support an expulsion motion, making it all but certain that Driscoll would be ejected from the chamber.[11]

On 21 November 2013, Driscoll was summoned to the Bar of the House to explain his actions. His solicitor, Peter Russo, spoke on his behalf and acknowledged that Driscoll had made errors in judgement, but would have corrected his interests register and the record if not for his ill health (Driscoll announced he suffered from bipolar disorder). He asked that the fine be reduced to $12,000. The Assembly was unmoved, and voted to fine him the recommended $90,000.[14] The fine was paid in full the following day.[12] The resulting 2014 Redcliffe by-election saw Labor reclaim the seat on a large swing.[15]

In October 2014, Driscoll was charged with 16 offences including fraud and soliciting secret commissions.[16]

As of 2016, he lived in a garage and his wife is recognised by the authorities as her husband's carer.[17]

On 25 November 2016, Driscoll pleaded guilty on 15 fraud charges. Driscoll, falsified meeting minutes of the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association and took secret commissions while with the group.[18] On 10 March 2017, Driscoll was convicted to serve at least 18 months in prison after being sentenced to six years' jail for fraud. He will be eligible for parole on 6 September 2018.[19]

Bruce Mills, a former associate, says he was intimidated by Driscoll, and attempted suicide as a result of that intimidation.[20][21]