OCEANIA

Queensland Ports Minister investigation

9 years ago

Queensland’s Ports Minister has stood down after revelations about his use of a personal email account, which allegedly had been used to conduct discussions with the Electrical Trades Union.

Minister Mark Bailey was stood down by his State Prime Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, after the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) revealed it had found “a number” of public records among the 30,000 emails retrieved from Mr Bailey’s deactivated account after it was reactivated earlier this year.

Mr Bailey deleted the email account after a Right to Information request to access it was lodged with his office by a national newspaper.

“Based on a review of the emails and advice in the report, the CCC considers a number of emails are public records,” the commission said. “In reviewing the emails, the CCC did not identify any evidence to support allegations Minister Bailey had used his personal email account to engage in negotiations with the Electrical Trades Union that would amount to corrupt conduct.”

However, it found “sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable suspicion of corrupt conduct” and directed the State Archivist to investigate further.

Prime Minister Palaszczuk said she had asked Minister Bailey to stand aside pending the outcome of the State Archivist’s investigation. Mr Bailey has promised he will fully co-operate with the investigation.