Annastacia Palaszczuk sacks police minister Jo-Ann Miller

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been forced to sack trouble-prone Jo-Ann Miller as police minister.

Jo-Ann Miller has apologised to parliament ‘unreservedly and sincerely’. Picture: Jono Searle

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been forced to sack trouble-prone Jo-Ann Miller as police minister after she “recklessly” broke parliamentary rules.

But Ms Palaszczuk may give the MP another cabinet portfolio when she reshuffles and expands her 14-member ministry as early as next week.

Parliament’s powerful Ethics Committee yesterday cleared Ms Miller of contempt, but found she had demonstrated a “pattern of reckless conduct” and broke several rules relating to her handling of confidential documents after the January state election.

Ms Miller apologised “unreservedly and sincerely” to parliament, but that did not save her job, with the Premier confirming her sacking after months of ­controversy.

“In light of the seriousness of the committee’s findings, I have advised minister Miller of my ­intention that she no longer continue in her present portfolio,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “

The Liberal National Party ­opposition has waged an attack for months on the embattled minister over this and other scandals and bungles. On Wednesday night, it moved a no-confidence motion in parliament against Ms Miller, who was saved by the casting vote of independent Speaker Peter Wellington.

A subdued Ms Miller earlier told parliament that she had not intentionally broken the rules.

“The people of Queensland expect the highest standards to be met and maintained at all times by members of parliament and ministers of the crown,” Ms Miller said. “I assure you I will not let them down again.”

The Ethics Committee found Ms Miller had not emptied her parliamentary and electorate ­office safes of confidential documents relating to a previous role on the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee. She had not returned the documents or shredded them, or returned the safes’ keys, and incorrectly had signed a statement saying she had followed the rules.

“The committee finds the combined effect of (Ms Miller’s) conduct is to diminish the standing of Members of Parliament in the eyes of the public,” the committee’s report said.

LNP leader Lawrence Springborg said it was not good enough for Ms Palaszczuk to simply find a new portfolio for Ms Miller rather than sack her from cabinet ­altogether.

Until this final parliamentary sitting week of the year, the ­minority government had not suffered a major legislative defeat nor been forced to drop or demote any ministers.

Yet late on Wednesday night the government failed to stop the passage of a Katter’s Australian Party private member’s bill to partly re-regulate the sugar ­industry. And, late yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk demoted Ms Miller.

Mr Springborg said the government had lost control. “It’s a bunch of novices that are still making it up as they go,” he said.