‘Biggest ministerial cover-up’: Premier dismisses demands for Callide answers

The LNP has sensationally accused the Miles government of trying to bury the truth about what really went wrong at Callide Power Station in 2021.

Premier Steven Miles has slapped down demands for the man at the centre of investigating the Callide Power Station explosion to front budget estimates for a political grilling.

The LNP has written to the state government urging it to compel forensic engineer Sean Brady to appear at Budget Estimates this month to answer questions about his probe into the 2021 power station explosion.

Dr Brady’s work has taken three years, with only a redacted draft report released last week after part of it was sensationally aired in the Federal Court.

It cited maintenance problems at Callide Power Station, leading to a week of pressure on Energy Minister Mick de Brenni, who said he was misled by CS Energy.

LNP energy spokeswoman Deb Frecklington has called for Mr de Brenni to request Dr Brady’s attendance at the budget estimates hearings to explain his three-year probe into the Callide explosion.

The Opposition are pushing for the expert who did the report into the Callide explosion to be hauled before Budget Estimates.

“The Callide cover-up is one of the biggest ministerial cover-ups in Queensland’s history,” she said.

“They did everything in their power to bury the independent expert report so Queenslanders would never know the truth.

“Labor must allow Sean Brady to appear before budget estimates.”

Mr Miles quickly dismissed the demand and said Ms Frecklington’s calls “fundamentally misunderstands” the purpose of estimates.

“The estimates process is an opportunity for MPs to ask questions of the government – Dr Brady is a consultant,” he said.

“He’s an expert in his field, but he is not a part or a spokesman for the government so it would be inappropriate for the opposition to try to call him to the estimates process.”

Callide Power Station. Photo: Orin Lucke.

A witness list is provided by the government for the two-week estimates process, giving Labor, LNP and crossbench members the chance to ask questions of bureaucrats and ministers.

Mr Miles also addressed a question about whether Mr de Brenni’s failure to follow-up the advice of CS Energy’s chair and CEO – and revelations he had not sought answers about the cause of the explosion – suggested he had been ignorant.

“No I think the minister has been incredibly clear,” he said.

“The minister was really reassured by those who are appointed to run these government owned corporations for us that all appropriate maintenance had been undertaken.

“At no stage was any maintenance funding withheld … any request they made for such funding was supported and approved.”