The Queensland Labor Party has settled an outstanding council rates bill of nearly $8000 for Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson amid a tough week in state parliament.
Ms Donaldson on Thursday told parliament the $7890 bill had been settled and apologised to both the Bundaberg Regional Council and her constituents.
She later revealed the Queensland branch of the Labor Party had paid the bill on Wednesday and she would repay the debt next week.
"Due to personal circumstances I was unable to immediately pay the bill myself," Ms Donaldson said in a statement.
She insisted she didn't deliberately avoid paying the bill.
"On this matter, I have not met the expectations I set for myself as your representative," she said.
"There is no excuse for this and I offer none."
Ms Donaldson also "inadvertently" omitted listing her mortgage account on her register of interests.
She also recalled falling behind on her mortgage repayments as a single mother looking for work in 2014, but said the "relatively small amount" was settled quickly.
"This was a very difficult time for me and my family," she said.
"I know what it's like to do it tough."
The council had earlier voted to sell the properties of several residents with years' worth of unpaid rates.
The Australian reports Ms Donaldson, who earns more than $320,000 a year, hadn't paid rates on her home for more than three years.
It also reported Ms Donaldson previously faced court action from lender Wide Bay Australia for an unpaid $1419 mortgage payment.
"I again unreservedly apologise to the house," Ms Donaldson said.
News of Ms Donaldson's unpaid bills come at a bad time for the minority Palaszczuk government, which is currently fending off calls for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to resign over Queensland Rail's driver shortage.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was "frankly unacceptable" to not pay a rates notice.
"Now I expect her to get on with her job," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"The deputy premier and I have made it very clear to the minister this morning that there will be no more chances - she needs to ensure that everything is in order."
Ms Palaszcuk did not answer Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls' question about when she knew about the unpaid bill and what she did to address the problem.
She later clarified she only found out about the issues on Wednesday.
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