Former Queensland government minister Gordon Nuttall never sought government approval for a $60,000 payment from a mining identity, a former and current premier have told a court.
Premier Anna Bligh and her predecessor Peter Beattie gave evidence in the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday in the trial of Harold Warner Shand.
Shand, 58, is accused of paying Mr Nuttall a $60,000 secret commission in April 2002.
The payment, the crown alleges, was made in the hope Mr Nuttall - then the industrial relations minister - would use his influence in the government to help advance the business dealings of Capregin, a mining company of which Shand was the chief financial controller and one of four shareholders.
Shand has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Dressed in a black suit, pearls and maroon heels, Ms Bligh told the court she did not believe the money was ever declared.
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"Are you aware of it being put forward for assent to the governor-in-council?" prosecutor Todd Fuller asked.
"No, I'm not," Ms Bligh said. Ms Bligh was echoing testimony given earlier on Wednesday by Mr Beattie, who appeared via video-link from Los Angeles.
"No, he did not (declare it), nor did he ever seek my approval or my permission to receive it either," said Mr Beattie, now a state trade commissioner.
Earlier in the trial the court heard evidence from lawyer Ray Lindwall, who told the court he advised Shand's business partner Jim Gorman in January 2002 that money being sought by Mr Nuttall for buying property would have to be recorded on the MPs' pecuniary interests register.
The $60,000 payment was made just a few months later, the court was told. Both Ms Bligh and Mr Beattie were questioned about cabinet processes, and the degree of influence ministers had over other portfolios.
Ms Bligh told the court her cabinet was a "collective decision-making body", meaning ministers were encouraged to discuss issues with each other even if they did not relate to their own portfolios.
Mr Beattie, who was the premier at the time the alleged secret commission was paid, said he tried to ensure ministers did not seek favours for friends or acquaintances.
"That would not have been tolerated," he said. "I expect proper influence."
When asked if Mr Nuttall could have used his industrial relations and health portfolios to advance the mining interests of Shand, Mr Beattie said it was possible there could be some potential for influence.
"Industrial relations could ... have had a genuine impact on mining," he said.
Mr Beattie told the court he "set about trying to run an honest and decent government".
"If anyone behaved improperly, yes I would have expected (other ministers) to raise it with me," he said.
