Queensland MP to retire at 2024 election despite being cleared of allegation he misspent taxpayer funds

Parliament clerk finds claim Labor’s Jim Madden used public money to buy an artwork for former partner ‘not substantiated’

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The embattled Queensland Labor MP Jim Madden has announced he will not contest the next state election despite being cleared by parliament of allegations he used taxpayer funds to buy artwork for his then-girlfriend.

Last week the Australian reported allegations that he had spent taxpayer funds buying a butterfly artwork for his former partner Sarah Grist at a school charity auction in September 2018, before later asking for it back.

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