The Queensland government has denied trying to hide the appointment of the premier's old army boss to help oversee its crackdown on bikies.
Retired brigadier Bill Mellor is acting as chief of the anti-bikie Strategic Monitoring Team. Premier Campbell Newman served under Mr Mellor when he was in the army.
He has been tasked with co-coordinating police enforcement and the security of government buildings after threats against government members.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said the government didn't announce the appointment because it "doesn't stand out", and it was a simple transfer from Mr Mellor's other role in government.
"You may be more interested in the appointment than the Queensland public," Mr Bleijie told reporters on Thursday.
"In terms of the public perception, it's not a public role where he's doing press conferences about government agencies talking to each other.
"What's it matter if they are in the military or civilian world? This is a highly decorated officer who has an impeccable record, it doesn't matter where he came from. He's right for the job."
The government has refused to reveal the salary being paid to Mr Mellor, who had been working as a disaster recovery co-ordinator after Cyclone Oswald hit Queensland in January.
During a 12-year army career, Mr Newman served under Mr Mellor but a spokesman for the premier rejected suggestions of a "jobs for the boys" appointment.
Mr Mellor said he had agreed to lead the crackdown because it was clear the state had a serious gangs problem, and a recent Gold Coast brawl involving dozens of bikies was proof.
"I was obviously concerned. It required a whole-of-government response and my job is to help co-ordinate just that. I think it's going pretty well," he told The Courier-Mail.
Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer accused the premier of wanting to "set up a Gestapo in Queensland".
"He wants the army to take control of the civilian population's lives," Mr Palmer told AAP.
"He thinks he wants to run the state like it's an army. That's all he knows, so everyone stands to attention when he asks them to."
