Sack Belinda Neal

Ms Belinda Neal, mp has conducted herself in an entirely inappropriate manner and in such a manor that is serious enough for her to lose her position within the Labor Party.

May 2008 - Ms Neal misled Parliament when she twice denied she had told the heavily pregnant Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella that "your child will turn into a demon, you have such evil thoughts". The comments are clearly audible on tape.
No action was taken by Labor, although a complaint was made to the PM

June 6 - Six staff at Gosford's Iguanas Waterfront restaurant and nightclub sign statutory declarations alleging federal Labor MP Belinda Neal and her husband, NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca, swore at and threatened them. An investigation was launched after staff at the Iguanas Waterfront restaurant and nightclub, at Gosford on the NSW central coast, claimed they were bullied by the couple during a night out on June 6. They claimed Ms Neal was abusive and threatening and told them she would have the club's "f***ing licence" - claims not contained in sworn statements filed by Ms Neal's companions.
June 7 - Mr Della Bosca dismisses reports of the night as "nonsense".

June 8 - Iguanas general manager Steve Twitchin issues an apology to Mr Della Bosca and Ms Neal. After receiving a phone call of complaint

June 9 - NSW Premier Morris Iemma receives a written account of the night from Mr Della Bosca. Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell calls for an inquiry into the incident.

June 10 - Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she's "not happy" about Ms Neal's alleged involvement in the incident. Mr Iemma says he has no grounds to sack Mr Della Bosca from his frontbench. Mr Della Bosca's office releases four statutory declarations from people who dined with the couple, saying he and his wife did nothing wrong.

June 11 - It is revealed Ms Neal was sent off during a soccer match for kicking an opposing player. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd orders Ms Neal undergo counselling for a pattern of unacceptable behaviour.

June 12 - NSW Police launch an investigation into the conflicting statutory declarations.

June 13 - Mr Iemma suspends Mr Della Bosca from the frontbench after it was revealed he drafted the apology issued to him by Iguanas.

June 17 - Mr Della Bosca explains his role in the Iguanas affair to NSW parliament, but refuses to go into detail so as not to prejudice the police investigation. Melissa Batten, who dined with the couple, quits her job with Ms Neal's office.
THE Government moved to limit Belinda Neal's exposure to allegations of misleading Parliament yesterday as it released new material showing the NSW backbencher had been provoked when she warned a Liberal MP that her unborn child could turn into a "demon".
June 18 - Ms Neal tells federal parliament she will reveal her side of the story when a police investigation ends.

June 19 - Ms Batten tells the Nine Network in a paid interview that she was pressured to leave details out of her statutory declaration about what happened at Iguanas.

July 1 - Police say Mr Della Bosca and Ms Neal had declined to be interviewed over the night at Iguanas. Mr Della Bosca later agrees to an interview after a phone call from Mr Iemma.

July 2 - Ms Neal calls police to her office claiming she was assaulted by a Nine Network television crew. She agrees to make herself available to police about the Iguanas incident.

July 3 - Ms Neal and Mr Della Bosca are interviewed by police.

July 10 - NSW Police hand their brief of evidence to the state and commonwealth directors of public prosecution.

July 28 - Jared Golla, Iguanas Waterfront manager on the night of the incident, is sacked.

Aug 17 - Ms Neal says reports that she sent letters to potential witnesses demanding an apology are "entirely false".

Aug 19 - Mr Della Bosca says in a statement that he expects to be exonerated.

Aug 30 - Gosford police rule out laying assault charges against a Nine Network crew, following the July 2 complaint from Ms Neal.
Abt Aug 30 - Dr Nelson says Ms Neal confronted him on a domestic flight last week and allegedly threatened him with legal action. Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop says she had to step in because Ms Neal's behaviour was menacing.
Sept 3 - The NSW and Commonwealth Directors of Public Prosecutions recommend against laying charges against anyone involved in the affair due to insufficient evidence. NSW Police say their investigation has now concluded.

NB. The NSW Police found sufficient evidence to prepare a brief for submission to DPP. The DPP is regarded amongst Government agencies as always reluctant to charge anyone with offences of the Statutory Declarations Act. The DPP works within a budget, they look at the strong possibility of successful prosecution before pursuing charges. Although one ex staff member made claims against Ms Neal, those still working for her did not support these claims. (how to build a case with only one member making the claim) Therefore, how do we expect DPP to find sufficient evidence, to pursue the charges in a court of law. This does NOT vindicate Belinda Neal in any way.