A-G urges watchdog on Clive's 'evidence'

THE CMC in Queensland is being urged by the Newman government to examine Clive Palmer's claims of corruption.

THE Crime and Misconduct Commission in Queensland is being formally urged by the Newman government to examine Clive Palmer's claims that he has documentary evidence of corruption and "illegal payments" being made to cabinet ministers.

The request by Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie to the anti-corruption agency's head, Ken Levy, is likely to lead to Mr Palmer being asked to produce the evidence he has claimed exists, senior sources say.

Mr Bleijie's letter to the CMC states: "The alleged conduct to which Mr Palmer alludes potentially falls within the definition of 'official misconduct', within section 15 of the Crime and Misconduct Act.

"There is a duty to notify the CMC of alleged official misconduct, particularly as the allegations of Mr Palmer are so serious and go to the heart of good government in the state.

"Clearly, it is a matter for the CMC to determine what action it deems appropriate, having viewed these news items."

The Australian reported this month that Mr Palmer claimed to have knowledge of corrupt "illegal payments" being made to senior members of Campbell Newman's Liberal National Party government, but the resources tycoon said he would not reveal the "evidence" until the next state election.

Mr Palmer intends to run candidates from his Palmer United Party in the state election, following the PUP's success with three Senate candidates in the federal election last month.

The CMC is expected to test Mr Palmer's statements, in which he said: "But it is true that there are corrupt ministers in the Newman government.

"It is true that we've got the evidence of that, which will come out before the next state election.

"It is true that there is (sic) illegal payments being made, that there are favours being done which are not in the best interest of Queensland, that we've got documentary evidence of that."

Under the Criminal Code of Queensland, it is an indictable offence, carrying a penalty of up to three years' jail, to withhold evidence of a criminal act in exchange for a benefit.

When asked by The Weekend Australian if he was withholding evidence of a serious crime, Mr Palmer has stated: "Wait to the state election. I (am) not withholding anything. Anyone can make a complaint to police.

In my judgment, based on the Fitzgerald inquiry, ministers only act for commercial (reasons) against the public interest if they are being corruptly paid."

Mr Bleijie told the CMC Mr Palmer had repeatedly claimed "that corruption is systemic within the Newman government".

In November last year, Mr Palmer said "people in the government and senior figures in the public service were conspiring to put me in jail and to confiscate all the assets that I have".

The government has challenged Mr Palmer to "put up or shut up", saying he "has been coming up with wild conspiracy theories and making unsubstantiated allegations against the Queensland government for more than a year, and has always failed to back up his claims".

Mr Newman, pressed to relax his policy of not commenting directly on Mr Palmer, said this week in a radio interview: "I think anybody who is in politics needs to be open and accountable and they need to make sure that they observe all the rules and laws around that, and that is all I ask of anybody."