Gordon won't step in for us again: premier

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has conceded she didn't know Billy Gordon was filling in for one of her ministers, but says it won't happen again.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has admitted controversial MP Billy Gordon has filled in for a government minister at official functions, but insists it won't happen again.

It's been revealed the disgraced independent MP filled in for Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne at events earlier this year.

Media reports published on Sunday said the Cook MP was being employed to deputise for the minister at events and was receiving speeches written by public servants.

"That's going to stop," Ms Palaszczuk said. "Only government ministers, only government members will represent ministers."

Pressed as to how Mr Gordon was able to step in without her knowledge, Ms Palaszczuk said a ministerial officer had "overstepped the parameters that I had set".

She said Mr Byrne had spoken to the staffer involved to reiterate appropriate procedure.

The premier fielded questions about the outcast MP before kicking off a community cabinet forum in Bundaberg.

It followed an attack by deputy opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek, who accused Ms Palaszczuk of "aiding and abetting" Mr Gordon.

"The question is, are they going to cut their ties with him?" he posed.

Mr Langbroek claimed Ms Palaszczuk was playing a "hoax" on Queenslanders by decrying Mr Gordon's actions in parliament and then affording him administrative support.

But pressed to specify how many times Mr Gordon had represented a minister, Mr Langbroek was unable to elaborate on a report by The Courier-Mail.

He also insisted the opposition's stance wasn't hypocritical given the conduct of former Liberal National Party MP Peter Dowling.

Mr Dowling earned the nickname "plonker" after a photo of him with his penis in a wine glass was disseminated to the media by a disgruntled mistress.

"It's a different matter in terms of the actual activities that happened," Mr Langbroek said.

"That was then in the 54th parliament, now we are in the 55th parliament."


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Source: AAP



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