PUP’s Glenn Lazarus battles claims of conflict

CAMPBELL Newman will snub an inquiry into the state government amid claims Glenn Lazarus is blocking moves to call Clive Palmer.

CAMPBELL Newman and his cabinet will snub the Senate inquiry into the Queensland government as allegations emerged that former rugby league star Glenn Lazarus is blocking moves to call his party boss, Clive Palmer.

Emails obtained by The Weekend Australian show Coalition senators have this week accused Senator Lazarus, who chairs the Palmer United Party-initiated inquiry, of a conflict of interest in ­refusing to even meet over their push for Mr Palmer to appear ­before the inquiry.

The Premier, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie have been invited to appear next Thursday. While Mr Newman and his cabinet colleagues have refused to say whether they will appear, government sources said they had no intention.

Coalition senators on the inquiry have repeatedly asked for committee meetings to vote on their push to call Mr Palmer but Senator Lazarus allegedly refused to accept the motion. Senator Lazarus’s office did not return calls.

Queensland Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan this week emailed Senator Lazarus accusing him of deliberately sabotaging ­Coalition calls to grill Mr Palmer.

“You know that I have now made no less than three attempts to submit names for consideration on a witness list, principally and importantly that of witness Mr Clive Palmer ...,’’ Senator O’Sullivan wrote.

“You have improperly blocked my requests making their way on to the agenda for consideration.

“In the absence of any alternative explanation I would respectfully suggest that your conduct leaves you open to a predictable assertion of having a conflict of interest in frustrating the proper conduct of the inquiry in examining ... his serious and unproven ­assertions of corruption in the Queensland government.’’