Campbell Newman rival Kate Jones at risk of grilling

LABOR  star candidate Kate Jones could face a grilling by the controversial Senate inquiry into the Queensland government early next year.

LABOR  star candidate Kate Jones could face a grilling by the Senate inquiry into the Queensland government early next year as she fights to unseat Campbell Newman at the looming state election.

Just days after Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said she did not support federal Labor’s backing of the Palmer United Party-initiated inquiry, Coalition senators have confirmed they intend to call the former state environment minister to give evidence.

The inquiry, set to begin public hearings next week on the Gold Coast, will examine commonwealth oversight of state ­approvals of coal-seam gas projects in Queensland — given by the former Labor Bligh government. PUP Senate leader Glenn Lazarus yesterday flagged his intention to call Mr Newman, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, as well as unionists, civil libertarians and radio broadcaster Alan Jones.

Queensland Liberal senator Ian Macdonald — deputy chair of the inquiry — said Mr Newman, Mr Seeney and Mr Bleijie should boycott “this farcical inquiry’’. “My advice would be that they rip up the invitation, throw it in the bin and not dignify it with a response,’’ Senator Macdonald said.

State MPs are not compelled under law to appear at the Senate inquiry, which was also set up with the support of Green senators who demanded it examine the CSG project approvals.

A spokesman for Mr Newman said a decision had yet to be made as to whether the Premier or any of his cabinet would ­appear at the Brisbane hearings, the first of which are to be held on November 21.

Senator Macdonald said the inquiry would need to call Ms Jones and former federal environment minister Tony Burke in examining the CSG approvals.