Jo-Ann Miller has been dumped as Queensland's police minister after months of controversy and bungles.
But she may remain in cabinet, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk indicating she will only be sacked from her current portfolio.
The embattled minister has been under pressure to walk for months, but up until Thursday afternoon Ms Palaszczuk stood by her.
The final straw proved to be a damning Ethics Committee report, which found Ms Miller's "reckless" conduct had "diminished the standing of parliament".
"In light of the seriousness of the committee's findings, I have advised Minister Miller of my intention that she no longer continue in her present portfolio," Ms Palaszczuk said in a statement.
"This intention will be given effect as part of the discussions I am having with all of my ministers over the coming days."
Just moments before the premier issued her statement, Ms Miller rose in parliament to apologise for failing to destroy confidential documents despite signing a declaration saying she had.
"I unreservedly and sincerely apologise for any conduct that was not of a standard expected of a person in my position," the minister said.
"The people of Queensland expect the highest standards to be met and maintained at all times by members of parliament and ministers of the Crown and I can assure you I will not let them down again."
The wording of the premier's statement suggests she may be demoted to a lesser portfolio, rather than being sacked from the cabinet.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the failure to sack her outright was "absolutely weak".
"The premier has obviously missed the point," Mr Springborg told AAP.
"This does not punish the actions of the Member for Bundamba (Ms Miller)."
He said Ms Miller would still be entitled to her $330,000 a year ministerial pay and chauffeur-driven limousine.
Mr Springborg called the premier "powerless" against unions who wanted Ms Miller to remain in cabinet.
"This is like giving a naughty child another warning and another warning and another warning and doing absolutely nothing," Mr Springborg said.
Labor MP Jim Madden has also resigned from the Ethics Committee after admitting to inadvertently leaking information about the report into Ms Miller to a journalist.
"I apologise to my fellow committee members, to the House, and I advise that I have requested the Leader of the House to discharge me from the committee," Mr Madden told parliament.
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