Labor bid to release secret documents over $2.57m Henry Keogh payout The extraordinary release of confidential documents about murder suspect Henry Keogh’s $2.57m taxpayer-funded payout is being urged by Labor as part of a bid to wound the Liberal minority government. In a ploy to leverage the newly empowered crossbenchers, Labor government accountability spokesman Tom Koutsantonis has notified parliament of a move to release four sets of documents, including Cabinet-in-confidence material. Covering topics calculated to appeal to the crossbenchers, the documents involve the Keogh payout, Brighton Rd,/Hove grade separation, rail outsourcing and Waite Gatehouse demolition. Mr Koutsantonis is trying to convince the five crossbenchers, including three former Liberals, to back the four motions and test parliament’s powers to force the documents’ release. Narungga MP Fraser Ellis, whose crossbench defection in February plunged the Liberals into minority, declared he would consider all motions put to parliament if they benefited his constituents. Other crossbenchers said the gatehouse issue would be discussed but stressed they wanted to co-operate with the government rather than be obstructionist. Mr Koutsantonis said he did not believe the public service advised Attorney-General Vickie Chapman to issue the $2.57m payout in 2018 to mitigate financial risk to the state from Mr Keogh’s wrongful murder conviction. Mr Keogh, who was released from prison in 2014 following an appeal, remains the sole suspect in the 1994 death of his then-fiancee, Anna- Jane Cheney. When prosecutors opted not to try him a third time, the State Government awarded him the $2.57 million taxpayer-funded payout for his 21 years in prison. Ms Chapman declined to comment. The five crossbenchers voted with Labor on Tuesday to suspend parliament’s standing orders, extend question time and create a select committee to examine mining access to private land. It was the first time the crossbenchers had sided with Labor since the government was plunged into minority, following Mr Ellis on February 19 suddenly resigning from the Liberals after being charged with allegedly rorting the Country Members Accommodation Allowance. Mr Ellis has denied the allegations. All three former Liberal crossbenchers – Mr Ellis, Sam Duluk and Troy Bell – were from the party’s conservative group, while Ms Chapman is a leader of moderate faction. .