Reprinted from the Brisbane Times, November 13, 2012

A former state government adviser claims Queensland’s Housing Minister Bruce Flegg failed to disclose multiple dealings with his son on the government’s lobbyist register, making the minister unfit to hold office.

 Senior media officer Graeme Hallett, who was sacked yesterday with Dr Flegg saying he had lost confidence in the veteran Liberal party staffer, released documents this morning that he claimed proved the minister was unfit for office.

 He alleged Dr Flegg’s lobbyist son, Jonathan Flegg, had regular contact with his father’s office, but the minister failed to disclose those dealings.

‘‘The actually lobbyist register document that was tabled when asked for by members of the opposition is in fact grossly inaccurate, misleading and fails to indicate a number of events, if you like, or contacts, or indeed, as the Premier says, recording all encounters,’’ Mr Hallett said in a press conference this morning.

 Mr Hallett was sacked on Monday, only days after Dr Flegg fired his chief-of-staff Fraser Stephen.

 It’s also believed Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek simultaneously dismissed his personal assistant Leonie Shepherd, a former electorate officer for Dr Flegg.

 Mr Hallett has worked as a ministerial adviser in the Howard government and also helped Dr Flegg when he was Liberal leader in 2006.

 In 2005, Mr Hallett was at the centre of controversy, when the then federal ministerial adviser was accused of trying to influence the Wyong Shire Council in NSW over a $1.5 million federal grant it was seeking to dredge a creek.