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CANBERRA - One of Queensland's more colourful former politicians, sacked on the eve of the 2004 election for bullying her staff, will learn today whether she will be jailed for trying to blackmail State Premier Peter Beattie.
Merri Rose, 52, admitted threatening to expose the alleged misdeeds of an un-named Government figure if Beattie did not find her a job in the private sector paying at least A$150,000 ($168,690) a year.
"This is a very serious example of a blackmail case," prosecutor Paul Rutledge said in urging a three to four-year prison sentence, of which the disgraced former Tourism and Racing Minister would serve between six months and one year.
Defence counsel Michael Byrne QC is seeking a suspended sentence.
Ultimately, Rose's frustration and inability to find a high-flying job in tourism - despite offers of help from Beattie - led her to attempt blackmail.
Rose soared with the popularity of Beattie's Labor Government, holding the Fair Trading portfolio before taking on the glamour jobs of Tourism and Racing.
As Beattie prepared for the 2004 election, a former member of her staff successfully complained of bullying and launched civil proceedings against Rose.
Evidence that emerged through the civil action alleged that Rose had forced former staffer Barbara Daddow to falsify parliamentary leave and expense claims. Daddow had allegedly been afraid to speak out because of Rose's close relationship with Beattie.
Daddow, who died last year with the action unresolved, also alleged that Rose had told her intimate details of extramarital relationships and required her to keep two sets of appointment books to disguise her real whereabouts from her now-estranged husband, David.
Rose denied the allegations, but after the bullying claim was upheld Beattie dumped her.
Rose still contested her Gold Coast seat of Currumbin, but lost. She then moved to share a fishing cabin on Moreton Island with her new partner.
Yesterday Chief Judge Patsy Wolfe heard in Brisbane District Court
that in April last year Rose sought Beattie's help in finding work.
Beattie said there was no chance of her working for the Government, but suggested a job in tourism - maybe as a company director - and told senior staff to help her find a position.
In October Rose was still looking, and met with former adviser David Smith in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall for a conversation she warned Smith "might not respect me for".
The court was told Rose claimed to have very damaging evidence against a person which, if made public, would cost that person everything. She demanded a job paying at least A$150,000 a year.
Smith's notes of the conversation recorded Rose as saying: "I don't want something for nothing. I want to work.
"They can call it a tourism commissioner or something like that.
"If '[Beattie] doesn't agree I will sell my story. This is not a deal - it is the deal."
In a subsequent telephone conversation taped by the state's Crime and Misconduct Commission, Rose told Beattie's chief of staff, Rob Whiddon that her demand was "very, very clear".
Details of the case were suppressed to protect the victim.
"This was not a spur of the moment case," Rutledge said.
"There were many opportunities for Ms Rose to withdraw."
Byrne argued that because Rose was suffering a mental illness a wholly suspended jail term was more appropriate.
Rose will be sentenced today.
