Minister Nikki Boyd refuses to ask why Parole Board president referred to corruption watchdog

Nikki Boyd has not once asked why her Parole Board president was referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission, saying it’s not part of her role as minister.

Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery and Minister for Corrective Services Nikki Boyd Queensland Paliament. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Under-fire Corrective Services Minister Nikki Boyd says it was not her role to know why her Parole Board president had been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission, despite him resigning to her after the referral was made.

The saga surrounding the sudden departure of Michael Byrne exploded in Parliament on Wednesday amid sensational claims he was romantically involved with a Labor staffer.

Ms Boyd was grilled over why her office negotiated Mr Byrne’s departure date for July 4, which marked exactly seven years and one day in the role and bumped his pension pay up $30,000 to $210,000 each year.

Bombshell letters tabled in Parliament by the Opposition allege the staffer was involved in Mr Byrne’s alleged misuse of spousal travel funds while he was president of the Parole Board, as a barrage of LNP members quizzed Ms Boyd on her knowledge of the allegations that led to the CCC referral.

The exact details of the allegations against Mr Byrne referred to the CCC remain unknown.

He is not accused of wrongdoing.

After struggling through question time, Ms Boyd fronted the media to deny knowing any details of the allegations against Mr Byrne, saying she was only advised of their existence through a “high level briefing” by Corrective Services Commissioner Paul Stewart on June 12.

She repeatedly insisted it was not her role to inquire about the nature of the allegations.

“My view is the matter was referred to the appropriate avenue that was the proper course of action,” she said.

“I was informed that an allegation had been referred to the CCC, I was informed by my Commissioner, it was a very high-level briefing that he was granted permission by the CCC to provide to me.”

Ministerial diary records show Ms Boyd met with Mr Stewart on the morning of June 12, before then meeting Mr Byrne alone – a meeting which she says was not in connection to the CCC referral but based on separate allegations of Mr Byrne not meeting his role requirements.

Two days later, he tendered his resignation.

Ms Boyd’s office then brought his resignation date forward from July 12 to 4.

She said she sought Crown law advice and was instructed that July 4 was the earliest registration date possible and would deliver fresh leadership in the Parole Board.

Former Parole Board President Michael Byrne. Picture: Peter Wallis

Ms Boyd also denied knowledge of Mr Byrne’s potential entitlements connected with his resignation date.

“I don’t know what his entitlements are. The date of his resignation is a matter for him,” she said.

Letters now before parliament and sent by Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie to Crime and Corruption Commission chair Bruce Barbour have now detailed the allegations put to the LNP by a whistleblower, claiming Mr Byrne had claimed travel allowance for a Labor staffer who did not qualify as his spouse.

Mr Bleijie on Wednesday said Ms Boyd should be infrastructure minister because “of the hole she dug for herself today”.

Labor Member for Macalister Melissa McMahon slammed the LNP for looking “through the windows” of bureaucrats.

“They want to know who our public servants are sleeping with,” she said.

Mr Byrne was contacted for comment.