Queensland mining magnate Ken Talbot and former Queensland Government minister Gordon Nuttall have been committed to stand trial on a total of 70 corruption charges over a $300,000 loan from the magnate to the politician.
Queensland mining magnate Ken Talbot and former Queensland Government minister Gordon Nuttall have been committed to stand trial on a total of 70 corruption charges over a $300,000 loan from the magnate to the politician.
Talbot, the founder and former managing director of coal giant Macarthur Coal, was valued at $913 million on this year’s BRW Rich 2007.
Talbot and Nuttall, who left politics at the 2006 Queensland election, both pleaded not guilty for next year’s trial and have reserved their defences.
It is alleged that Nuttall received an $8333.33 loan each month from Talbot between October 2002 and September 2005. Nuttall has previously claimed the loans were used to pay for his children’s mortgages.
Talbot told the court he would defend 35 charges of corruptly gaining a valuable consideration through monthly payments to Nuttall.
Under the charges, Nuttall and Talbot will need to prove their innocence. Outside the court, Nuttal described this burden of proof as “draconian”.
The trial is expected to be held in the middle of next year.
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