Calls for Mining Minister Adam Brooks to be sacked

LABOR has again urged Premier Will Hodgman to sack the currently stood-down Mining Minister Adam Brooks before Parliament sits on Tuesday.

LABOR has again urged Premier Will Hodgman to sack the currently stood-down Mining Minister Adam Brooks before Parliament sits on Tuesday.

Under-fire Liberal MP Adam Brooks. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Mr Brooks was stood down on Friday pending an audit by the Crown-Solicitor into his business email address and was temporarily stripped of his mining, racing, building and construction and red tape reduction portfolios just 16 weeks after he was promoted to take on the ministries.

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Premier Will Hodgman made the decision after Mr Brooks told a Budget Estimates Committee on Thursday night he did not use an email address linked to a company he owns called Maintenance Systems Solutions.

Mr Brooks founded MSS in 2004 and the company specialises in asset management, planning, training and development and provides staff to the mining industry.

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Mr Brooks was asked on three occasions by Opposition treasury spokesman Scott Bacon whether he used an MSS email address. He replied “no” on each occasion.

He later corrected the record, saying he used the email address for “personal use”.

Mr Brooks is also still listed as the owner of MSS on social media site LinkedIn.

Mr Bacon said it was “blatantly clear” Mr Brooks lied.

“If Mr Brooks won’t even face the cameras, then it’s time for the Premier to do the right thing to act and remove Mr Brooks permanently from the Cabinet before the Parliament sits on Tuesday,” he said.

When asked if he would put in a no-confidence motion for Mr Brooks, Mr Bacon replied: “We will be having a meeting to discuss the Parliamentary week.”

In a letter to the Premier on Friday, Mr Brooks said he had removed himself from all management and operational decisions of relevant businesses.

Mr Brooks’ mining responsibilities have been handed to Police and Emergency Services Minister Rene Hidding, Treasurer Peter Gutwein, Energy Minister Matthew Groom and Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff.

Mr Hodgman said the audit could take “several weeks”.