Reported in today’s Courier Mail by Robyn Ironside

FORMER Public Works and Housing Minister Bruce Flegg has launched legal action against his sacked media advisor Graeme Hallett for defamation, and for costing him his ministerial income.

In a lawsuit lodged in the Brisbane Supreme Court this week, Dr Flegg lays the blame for losing his job squarely on Mr Hallett.

 He is believed to be seeking up to a million dollars in special damages for the income he will forgo after quitting the ministry and returning to the backbench.

Dr Flegg also accuses Mr Hallett of defamation as a result of a press conference he called the day after he was sacked by his boss, who said he was untrustworthy.

 At the press conference, attended by all major media organisations, Mr Hallett accused Dr Flegg of being unfit to hold office.

 He released documents from Dr Flegg’s lobbyist son Jonathon showing he had regular contact with his father’s office despite previously claiming he had been banned from lobbying the minister.

Mr Hallett also revealed diary entries showing Dr Flegg was working in his electorate office were untrue, with the Minister instead working at a Burpengary medical centre as a GP.

Although Dr Flegg and Premier Campbell Newman initially dismissed Mr Hallett’s statements as a “fizzer” the Minister resigned before Parliament sat the following day.

Mr Hallett has raised the possibility of taking action for wrongful dismissal.

Blue ribbon law firm Cooper Grace Ward is representing Dr Flegg in his action.

 No date has been set to hear his case.

There is a considerable difference between a backbencher’s and a minister’s salary, equivalent to about $60,000 a year,