One Nation candidate and former senator criticised for ‘absolutely appalling decision’ not to stand down staffer, who was charged with rape in May

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Malcolm Roberts, the disqualified One Nation senator now running for a Queensland state seat, retained an accused rapist as his adviser for five months.

Sean Black, who worked for Roberts until the senator was ruled ineligible by the high court last Friday, was charged with rape and six counts of assault on 24 May.

Black’s arrest was widely reported but the rape charge, confirmed at the time by Queensland police to Guardian Australia, could not be made public for legal reasons.

The ban on reporting has been lifted now that Black has been committed to trial in the Queensland district court.

One Nation adviser Sean Black charged with assault Read more

Hetty Johnson, a prominent advocate for victims of sexual crime and an independent candidate in the seat of Macalister, said Roberts had made an “absolutely appalling decision” by not standing Black down when he was charged.

“It lacks any kind of moral integrity towards alleged victims of crime,” she said.

A Brisbane magistrate ruled on 12 September that the rape charge against Black was supported by sufficient prima facie evidence. Details of the allegations against him still cannot be published. Black was committed to stand trial in the district court on one count of rape and three of assault occasioning bodily harm.

A date for a trial is yet to be set. Black separately faces three counts of common assault in the Brisbane magistrates court.



Black told Fairfax Media, which reported his committal to trial on Thursday, that he was no longer working for Roberts, who is standing for the seat of Ipswich.



Johnson told the Guardian: “You would expect Sean to have stood himself aside [from his role in Canberra], to be honest. But failing that, you would have to expect a politician, an elected representative would stand him down.

“We’re talking about somebody who’s working to change laws and legislation, whose voice is an important part of our democracy.

“Not to say the person’s guilty or not guilty, but that’s the problem, you don’t know, so no – they shouldn’t be working for a politician. They should be stood down immediately from any public role, even in a public service role.”

Troy Aggett, who was the endorsed One Nation candidate in Ipswich before Roberts until he quit the party over a falling out to run as an independent, said Roberts had shown a lack of judgment and should have stood Black down.

“I don’t think something like that should be taken lightly. Considering the position you’re holding and the impact you can have on legislation being made, I don’t you should be advising or anywhere near someone who has an influence on legislation being made.”

Aggett, a former Australian federal police officer, said an AFP officer charged with rape would be stood down immediately without pay.

“I would have thought that if you had those sort of allegations against you that you wouldn’t be allowed to work within the parliament realm but apparently you can.”

The Guardian attempted to contact Roberts for comment on Thursday morning.

Black told Fairfax that he was not managing Roberts’ Ipswich campaign, but was “a friend of Malcolm’s”.

“That is the only role I have in his endeavours. Any claims to other roles is [sic] inaccurate.”

Black was charged after a police investigation that began when a complaint was lodged in August 2016.