Qld integrity crisis: Annastacia Palaszczuk laughs off email scandal

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is yet to finish reading a scathing report into her Minister’s use of private emails, as she laughed off explosive revelations.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has not finished reading a scathing report into her Minister’s use of private emails as she laughed off questions about extraordinary revelations concerning union links and a hit list of bureaucrats.

The State Government came under fire in Parliament yesterday following the release of former state archivist Mike Summerell’s 2017 investigation into then energy minister Mark Bailey’s use of his private email accounts.

Ms Palaszczuk on two instances said she did not know what the Opposition was referring to, with her office later revealing she had not finished reading the report.

“The Premier is reading a number of reports including the one tabled (Wednesday),” a spokesman said.

Ms Palaszczuk blamed the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in January on why she had not read a separate damning report into the conduct of the Crime and Corruption Commission that identified serious failings in the watchdog’s handling of an investigation into Logan City Council.

The Government insisted Mr Summerell’s findings were old news yesterday, while attacking the LNP for sacking 14,000 public servants during former premier Campbell Newman’s one-term reign seven years ago.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Question Time yesterday. Picture: Sarah Marshall/NCA NewsWire

As the Opposition raised questions about the Government’s accountability and whether Queenslanders could trust Mr Bailey, Ms Palaszczuk said Queenslanders could trust every member of her government.

“Queenslanders can trust every member of this government – every member of this government,” she said.

“I tell you who Queenslanders do not trust – that side (LNP).”

Mr Summerell’s previously secret report into Mr Bailey’s “mangocube” email address probed the legality of the deletion of public records in private emails by the Minister, and was provided on request to the CCC in 2017.

The report delivered a stunning insight into the inner workings of the Queensland government and contained explosive emails that revealed ministers being directed by a union boss and receiving a hit list of bureaucrats who posed a “big risk to Labor”.

Mr Summerell found that correspondence with the ETU was “without doubt” the most dominant and that Mr Bailey seemed to have difficulty managing his relationship with the union.

An email from former ETU boss Peter Simpson to Mr Bailey appeared to indicate he had knowledge of an upcoming cabinet vote for changes to WorkCover.

It laid out three voting options and said “A is the only one acceptable”.

Minister Mark Bailey in Question Time yesterday. Picture: Sarah Marshall/NCA NewsWire

Mr Bailey responded to the email saying he would call.

The Minister said yesterday he had no idea how Mr Simpson may have known about a Cabinet matter, and said he always made up his own mind when in Cabinet.

Mr Summerell had noted that the ETU seemed to believe that Mr Bailey owed them following the 2015 state election win.

Asked whether he believed he owed something to the union, Mr Bailey said he received support from all kinds of people.

“The ETU have been supportive of me in terms of running for office,” he said.

“That’s not exactly unusual.

“Unions and the Labor Party have had a relationship for 130 years, that’s not a surprise to anybody.”

He said the Cabinet process should be confidential.

“I think people have a reason to have more confidence in the political system than they did in 2015 when Campbell Newman trampled all over some of the democratic provisions and transparency provisions that were in place here in Queensland,” he said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli in Question Time yesterday. Picture: Sarah Marshall/NCA NewsWire

Mr Bailey defended the ETU’s lobbying of him via his private email account, saying it was normal for ministers to be lobbied by stakeholders, peak bodies and “all kinds of people all the time”.

“I think that’s a normal part of the political process,” he said.

“Ministers have to make up their own assessments and come to their own conclusions and that’s what I do uniquely on every item.”

Another email revealed Mr Bailey was sent a hit list of bureaucrats thought to have allegiances to the LNP by Rail, Tram, and Bus Union member Noel Morris.

Asked in Question Time if any of those people listed had been sacked, Ms Palaszczuk said she did not know what the Opposition was referring to.

Ms Palaszczuk was also asked how many times union officials had received confidential information and had told her ministers how to vote in Cabinet.

Ms Palaszczuk did not answer directly, instead saying Mr Bailey had already given a personal explanation.

The Opposition also asked Ms Palaszczuk whether the Government was listening to Queenslanders or unions and Labor lobbyists.

Ms Palaszczuk thanked the frontbencher for the “dixer”, saying her Government was listening to Queenslanders every day.

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