Premier Campbell Newman is rallying behind Bruce Flegg, the latest LNP minister to become entangled in a scandal involving their child’s role in Government circles. Picture: Kidston Liam Source: The Courier-Mail

The Courier Mail provided extensive coverage of the situation of the Housing Minister and Premier in todays on line and print newspaper.  The articles below are written by Steve Wardill and Sarah Vogler.  Read below or click here to go to the online version.

TROUBLE-prone minister Bruce Flegg held undeclared discussions with his lobbyist son about a client just hours before claiming his office’s register of contact with the industry was accurate.

 A document detailing all contact between Jonathon Flegg and his father’s Public Works and Housing ministerial office has exposed how the pair exchanged emails about Viking Rentals, a company that promotes “dunnies with dignity”, from October 3.

Compiled by Mr Flegg Jr and released yesterday by the minister’s sacked media adviser Graeme Hallett, the document reveals the pair continued to exchange emails with the subject line “Discuss Viking Rental” until October 18. Continue reading →

Queensland Housing Minister Bruce Flegg’s former senior media officer Graeme Hallett. Photo: Daniel Hurst

Below is an updated version of the Brisbane Times article covering the media conference and related concerns of sack Flegg media advisor, Graeme Hallet.A former state government adviser claims Queensland’s Housing and Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg failed to disclose multiple dealings with his son on the government’s lobbyist register, making the minister unfit to hold office.

Dr Flegg has fired back in Parliament, saying the allegations come from “a vengeful, bitter ex-staffer, who wanted to take revenge and try to harm his former employer”.

 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, Jonathon Flegg, had regular contact with his father’s office, but the minister failed to disclose those dealings.

 ‘‘The actual 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 media conference this morning.

“The public, if they are to have any confidence in the fabric of democracy and institutions like this, have to know that what is provided is accurate, true and correct, and not doctored.” Continue reading →

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.

Reprinted from Danial Hurst, Brisbane Times, November 12, 2012

UPDATED

For the second time in a week, Queensland Housing and Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg has dumped a senior staffer.

The second – his senior media adviser – is planning to fight back tomorrow morning at a press conference designed to tell why his boss shouldn’t be minister.

The major overhaul in the minister’s office poses a political headache for the Newman government on the eve of the second last parliamentary sitting week of the year.

Earlier, the Newman government confirmed Dr Flegg had dumped chief of staff Fraser Stephen on Thursday, but the circumstances remained a mystery.

Now Dr Flegg’s senior media adviser Graeme Hallett says he has also been sacked.

Mr Hallet, who has served in the role since shortly after the March election, said he would front the media on Tuesday morning to discuss “aspects of Dr Flegg’s behaviour that makes him not fit to be a minister”.

He was reluctant to explain publicly the nature of the information he would disclose. It is understood documents may be released. Continue reading →

The Brisbane Times today reported that the Queensland Housing Minister, Dr Bruce Flegg, dumped his Chief of Staff.  The following is from the Brisbane Times today, reported by Daniel Hurst.

Queensland Housing and Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg has dumped his chief of staff, but the circumstances remain a mystery.

A Newman government spokesman said Dr Flegg lost confidence in his top political adviser Fraser Stephen, who left his position as chief of staff on Thursday.

He said Mr Stephen’s job was “terminated” but would not disclose the reasons.

Dr Flegg reportedly refused to comment on the matter when questioned by media on his way into a weekly cabinet meeting this morning.

By Kara Irving, reprinted from the Gladstone Observer, Thursday, 8 November, 2012

HOUSING Minister Bruce Flegg has assured residents that public housing in Gladstone will not be put up for tenure.

The minister met with Gladstone Regional Council and Roseberry Community Service members on Wednesday to discuss options to resolve the public housing shortage in the area.

In the meeting Dr Flegg discussed the need for more housing and more affordable housing across the region.

“All we want to do is provide good housing, more of it and make sure the people in public housing are looked after and supported. That is our aim,” Dr Flegg said.

“There is no suggestions of privatising or contracting out the government’s responsibilities in relation to public housing.”

Tenant advocates across the state agree with this report, reprinted from the Australian newspaper online, November 7, and written by Marty Silk.

A REVIEW of Queensland’s rental tenancy laws must focus on safety issues raised after the death of a baby, a legal firm says.

Baby Isabella Diefenbach was being held by her father on the balcony of the family’s rental property in 2010 when his foot went through a rotten wooden plank and she fell from his arms to her death.

A review called by Housing Minister Bruce Flegg will focus on balancing the interests of tenants and landlords, streamlining services and reducing red tape.

The Real Estate of Institute of Queensland says the review will eliminate unnecessary regulations and help clarify the “onerous and poorly defined” responsibilities of property managers.

But Maurice Blackburn Lawyers says the review must address key issues raised by Coroner Annette Hennessey after an investigation into the death of baby Isabella Diefenbach in 2010.

Maurice Blackburn principal Gino Andrieri said taking in coroner’s recommendations was crucial.

These included creating a clear system for recording complaints, maintenance and repairs, and providing better training for property managers.

“While the review touches on one recommendation, namely the provision of copies of inspection and pest reports to tenants, it needs to go further,” Mr Andrieri said.

“This includes the coroner’s call for the law to be amended to ensure mandatory inspections of certain decks and clarification around the definition of an emergency repair.”