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A former federal Labor candidate has been accused of harassing the employee of a state minister with whom he had a relationship.
Michael Denton, who ran for Labor in the Petrie seat north of Brisbane during the last federal election, has been accused of stalking an employee of Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’ath while in a relationship with the high-profile minister.
Nine News reported that Ms. D’ath was unaware of the charges against Mr. Denton when approached about it.
Michael Denton poses with Queensland Attorney General Yvette D’ath when the pair were in a relationship earlier this year.
It is understood she ended her relationship with him immediately.
Ms D’ath, who has announced she will leave politics at the next state election, has declined to comment.
She said that as the matter is before the courts, it would be inappropriate for her to say anything.
Ms D’ath was Queensland’s health minister during the controversial Covid period, overseeing vaccine mandates and state lockdowns.
Nine reported that the “context of that relationship” will be part of the police case, according to sources.
Dention, a divorced father of three, appeared at Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on February 16, where he was granted bail on a charge of stalking to harass, intimidate or abuse.
Queensland Labor has confirmed Denton resigned from the party this year.
Petrie is the same federal seat D’ath held between 2007 and 2013, when he lost it to incumbent Liberal MP Luke Howarth.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese campaigned alongside Denton when his candidacy was announced in July 2021.
In a social media post at the time, Albanese said Denton was “a Redcliffe local, a local oil refinery worker and someone who knows the value of Australian manufacturing”.
In announcing his candidacy, the Labor Party said Mr Denton, who was a delegate of the Australian Workers Union, became a “father at a young age”.
Denton, pictured while representing the federal seat of Petrie, campaigning with then opposition leader Anthony Albanese.
Campaign materials said Denton understood what it was like to “struggle to put food on the table and choose between buying food and paying the bills.”
Denton has not yet entered a plea and will appear in court again on March 11.