Dear Commissioner Negus,

…            …            …

I am writing to raise a very grave and serious issue concerning whether or not certain conduct by Mr Bruce McIver, President of the Liberal National Party (LNP) in Queensland, might constitute improper influence—if not illegal pressure and breach of Federal criminal legislation—upon a Member of the Australian Parliament.

On the morning of Thursday, 25 th February, 2010, Mr Bruce McIver, President of the Liberal National Party (LNP) in Queensland, and I had a meeting in my Canberra Parliamentary office. Mr Brian Loughnane, the Federal Director of the Liberal Party, was also present during the entire meeting.

During that meeting, Mr McIver expressed certain language towards me that I personally took to be extremely intimidating and of an entirely improper character. During this meeting, Mr McIver called upon me in no uncertain terms to resign from the Federal Parliament at the next election otherwise, he informed me, he would present certain material in his possession to the police. During this meeting, Mr McIver produced a large “black folder” which he alleged contained material and documents that was evidence of alleged criminal behaviour on my part and could see me “go to jail” if he personally instructed the LNP to conduct further investigation into me. Immediately after the meeting, I informed one of my staff members who was in the adjacent room of the tenor, tone and content of the meeting.

Subsequent to this meeting, a second meeting was held in my Canberra Parliamentary office on Thursday 11 th March, 2010, Again, both Mr Bruce McIver and Mr Brian Loughnane were present. During this meeting, a Canberra based lawyer from the national law firm, DLA Phillips Fox, was also present at my request, as well as an actual member of my staff. It was at this meeting that Mr McIver produced an email off my Parliamentary account for me to read.

He indicated to me that this was evidence of why his demand for me to resign from Parliament was justified. The means by which Mr McIver came to be in possession of this email has never been explained by Mr McIver, either to myself or to my lawyers.

There is absolutely no doubt at all in my mind that Mr McIver’s language and his conduct at both meetings was designed to bring enormous pressure upon me to resign my Federal seat of Ryan from the Australian Parliament—directly and specifically against my wishes. The crystal clear and indelible impression was left in my mind—due to his words and his conduct—that unless I agreed to resign my Federal seat of Ryan, there would be severe political and legal consequences for me personally. The intent to force me to resign—against my wishes—was clear, deliberate, unambiguous and unequivocal. In the hours, days and weeks that followed, I have written extensively to various stakeholders (party political, parliamentary, and private) confirming the two meetings and in my view, the highly improper threats that followed at each meeting.

As you will appreciate the profound sensitivity of this matter, it is not appropriate for me to expand in depth in this letter. However, in my capacity as a sitting member of the Australian Parliament, I am formally calling on the Australian Federal Police to commence an investigation, including interviews with all relevant parties, and to consider whether a substantive investigation into whether or not Mr Mclver’s conduct was improper at law and breached any Federal legislation. I would, of course, be willing and able to provide further information to trigger such investigation. The improper influence by any individual person upon a Member or Senator of the Australian Parliament is a most serious occurrence. To that end, I would of course personally be willing and able to co-operate with the Australian Federal Police. I would also be willing and able to be interviewed at length and to present more detailed information and material to a relevant Australian Federal Police Officer who might be assigned to this case. I am certainly of the view that a meeting between a Federal Police Officer and myself is entirely appropriate and an urgent meeting would be prudent.

Thank you for your time Commissioner and I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Mr Michael A.. Johnson MP

Federal Member for Ryan