Nuttall, 56, was jailed for seven years last July after he was found guilty of 36 corruption charges for receiving $360,000 from two Brisbane businessmen between 2002 and 2005, while serving as a minister in the Beattie government.
The Court of Appeal on Tuesday dismissed his appeal against the conviction.
The court also refused an application for leave to appeal against his sentence.
Nuttall's barrister, John Rivett, lodged an appeal against the conviction on February 12, arguing evidence was improperly led by the crown and that Judge Patsy Wolfe had summed up the case in a way that was "confusing" to the jury.
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Mr Rivett also appealed Nuttall's seven-year sentence, saying the crimes did not warrant the maximum jail term.
Former premier Peter Beattie, now Queensland's trade commissioner to the Americas, told AAP the appeal judgment showed the accountability system worked.
"The message out of this very clearly is Queenslanders can rest assured the system worked - they know they have an honest government here," Mr Beattie said.
"We had one rotten apple. I'm disappointed - he would not have been in cabinet without me, it was an error in judgment by me to appoint him there.
"But we did the right thing by referring the matter to the CMC, and not only that but we were key witnesses against Nuttall."
Nuttall is eligible for parole in January 2, 2012.
