Inquiry into Queensland government lacks plan, at $50k a day

A FIVE-member committee has not even agreed on the program for this week’s Senate inquiry into the Queensland government.

CAMPBELL Newman and his senior cabinet colleagues have yet to be called to give evidence at a public hearing of the Palmer United Party-led Senate inquiry into the Queensland government this Friday.

Although Mr Newman, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie are expected to snub the controversial inquiry, it has emerged that its five-member committee has not even agreed on the program for this week’s hearing — costing taxpayers up to $50,000 a day.

Earlier internal committee correspondence shows that the inquiry’s chairman, PUP senator Glenn Lazarus, wanted to call the Queensland Premier and his two cabinet colleagues to face a grilling on Friday but yesterday withdrew the proposal.

Just hours after Mr Seeney yesterday publicly confirmed he would boycott the inquiry, initiated by PUP with the support of the Greens and federal Labor, Senator Lazarus changed tack and proposed calling several union leaders, including the head of the Electrical Trades Union in Queensland.

Mr Seeney confirmed he would not be appearing .

Senator Lazarus’s office did not return calls by The Australian.