The Queensland Liberal Committee for Public Safety has met, and Madame la Guillotine has spoken.

Russell
Galt, the former Klan Khemlani kandidate who so enlivened the election
campaign with his “lying rodent” allegations has been expelled. We
suppose we should thank him for doing so much to popularise a phrase
that Crikey first pushed into widespread use.

Galt is also publicising allegations that have featured in Crikey in the past.

“Mr
Galt blasted the disciplinary committee for failing to investigate a
secret deal – which he alleges was signed off by [Queensland Liberal
Party president] Mr Caltibiano – to pay $140,000 in legal fees so that
he would drop a challenge to his failed pre-selection bid for a state
seat,” The Australian
reports today. “In his submission, Mr Galt claims that in October 2003
Mr Caltibiano persuaded him to drop a court action challenging his
failed bid to stand for the outer-Brisbane seat of Moggill by
committing the party to pay for his legal bills.”

There are
further Crikey and Khemlani konnections with Margaret Krause, another
purged member who has been suspended from the party. Her crime? Looking
at Khemlani fund-raising.

“Mrs Krause said she circulated an
article, featured on website Crikey.com.au, about the ‘Welcome the
Springboks to Brisbane’ event,” The Oz reports.

“Mr
Johnson said it was a political fund-raiser but confirmed that
‘hundreds of dollars’ raised at the event was lost by one of his staff
members on the night.

“ ‘She put the bag of money on top of her car and drove off,’ he said. ‘I filed a police report and reimbursed the money’.”