QUEENSLAND'S Transport and Main Roads director-general Michael Caltabiano has stepped aside after being accused of misleading state parliament over his work history.
Mr Caltabiano could face criminal charges over the matter as the Newman government has made lying to parliament a criminal offence.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson says he has written to Speaker Fiona Simpson, who on Thursday referred statements by Mr Caltabiano to the Parliamentary Ethics Committee.
"During the Transport and Main Roads Estimates Hearing on October 18 Mr Caltabiano said he had known a staff member personally, not professionally," Mr Emerson said.
The minister said he had been assured by Mr Caltabiano that his statement, referring to departmental liaison officer Ben Gommers, was accurate.
Mr Gommers is the son of Liberal National Party (LNP) minister Ros Bates.
Both were connected to lobbyist firm Entree Vous, which is now run by former LNP state director Geoff Greene.
The Courier Mail on Tuesday published a screen shot of the Entree Vous website showing Mr Caltabiano, Ms Bates and her son Mr Gommers as three key players in the firm.
Mr Caltabiano was described as "one of our people" and a testimonial from former Liberal senator Nick Minchin described him and Ms Bates as demonstrating the good side of lobbying.
"I have concerns with some inconsistencies between his statements and media reports," Mr Emerson told reporters.
"I spoke to him about my concerns and he made it clear he had told the truth."
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said Labor had also intended to refer the matter to the speaker when parliament sits next week.
"This is a scandal and the truth needs to come out," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"(Mr Caltabiano) is a Liberal Party powerbroker.
"It is a very serious issue to mislead an estimates committee."
Mr Caltabiano has stepped aside on full pay, under standard arrangements. His deputy Neil Scales will be acting director-general until the matter is fully investigated.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Qld bureaucrat faces ethics probe
Dengan url
http://flasdiskvirus.blogspot.com/2012/10/qld-bureaucrat-faces-ethics-probe.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Qld bureaucrat faces ethics probe
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Qld bureaucrat faces ethics probe
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar