BILLY Gordon claims the lack of a “father figure” in his life is part of his undoing – but it’s his own parenting in the Gulf Country town of Normanton which has him under more scrutiny.
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The embattled State MP lived in Normanton for several years in the late ‘90s with one resident claiming his blame of not having a father figure in his life was “amusing”.
“I find it highly amusing that he says he wished he had a father figure,” the resident said.
“He was here only a few months ago and he didn’t even go and see his children.”
“He hasn’t paid them a cent in child support.”
The resident said his wish for a ‘father figure’ contradicted his own actions as a father.
“He can’t have it both ways,” the Normanton local said.
Mr Gordon added a statement to his Facebook page, outlining his past on Monday.
"One of the things that I do remember wishing for the most, even into my years as a teenager, was for a perfect father figure, especially since as a young man I also had serious contact with the criminal justice system.”
"I remember wishing as young person that I had grown up with a 'normal' nuclear family. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.”
Gordon’s criminal history includes a charge of public nuisance in 1996 in Normanton
He was then charged with breach of bail conditions in 1999, stemming from not attending a court summons from the 1996 incident.
It’s believed Gordon has three children to two women in Normanton after they had de facto relationships with him. It’s believed one woman has two daughters to Gordon and the other has a son.
Gordon’s grandfather lived in Normanton for many years and was a very well respected man in the community, said another resident.
The resident also described Gordon as a respected community leader.
“Billy was highly respected when he worked with State Government and traveled out to Gulf Communities with his work, but he also lived in Normanton for some years,” the resident said.
Gordon was forced to quit the Labor party on Monday after he failed to tell Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and his party about his criminal history, allegations he'd assaulted a former partner, and had not paid child support.
Mr Gordon’s extensive criminal history was received by the Department of Communities in 2008 after he applied for a position in Mount Isa within the Department’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships division and worked there for several years.
Gordon broke the silence on his parliamentary future, saying he has no intention of quitting politics in the short term.
In an interview with the Western Cape Bulletin, the ousted Labor Party member has said he denies allegations of violence against his former partners and would not resign from parliament.
Mr Gordon told the newspaper he would co-operate fully with the police investigation and take time to consider his future.
"I'm not some kind of deadbeat dad... It's not as black and white as what some people are making out," Mr Gordon told the Western Cape Bulletin.