Jailed former minister Gordon Nuttall's "delusion" that he's done nothing wrong is pathetic and tragic, Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser says.
Nuttall, who's serving 12 years for corruption, perjury and receiving secret commissions while he was a Beattie government minister, faced parliament on Thursday on contempt charges.
MPs voted to fine him $82,000 for holding the parliament in contempt by failing to disclose the secret payments under parliamentary rules.
During his address, Nuttall told MPs he could not afford to pay such a large fine, and urged them to accept his unreserved apology for his non-disclosure as his penalty.
But he also insisted he did nothing wrong, saying the payments he received were anything but secret and were "loans" not subject parliament's disclosure rules.
Mr Fraser on Friday said there was no sympathy for Nuttall among MPs for good reason, and was scathing of his lack of contrition and the "feeble half-truths" he told to justify his own actions.
"I certainly think he's betrayed the government, I certainly think he's betrayed the Labor Party, but I also think he's betrayed the parliament," he told ABC radio.
"The issue for all of us who are MPs is that we get judged by the lowest common denominator and that affects all of us.
"It actually detracts from public regard for all politicians."
Mr Fraser said Nuttall remained "deluded that he's done anything wrong".
"I think in many ways that delusion is both quite pathetic and ultimately tragic," he said.
Opposition treasury spokesman Tim Nicholls, who was on the ethics committee that recommended fining Nuttall, agreed Nuttall still wasn't admitting the "enormity" of his offences to himself or others.
"I have a great deal of sympathy for his family ... so far as Mr Nuttall is concerned I'm a bit ambivalent about feeling sympathy for him," Mr Nicholls said.
Earlier on Friday, Nuttall's barrister John Rivett said the fine could force his client into bankruptcy.
Nuttall has a year to pay and if he fails to do so, can be forced to serve additional jail time.
Mr Rivett on Friday said Nuttall had few assets left and bankruptcy was a possibility.
"I don't know that he will be able to (pay)," he told ABC radio.
"He's had an order made against him as a result of the proceeds of crime actions against him, and that ... is over $500,000."
"He definitely has to sell one of the houses to pay the bills, and the other house is really owned by his wife."
Mr Rivett said he was looking at what options there might be to appeal against the parliament's decision.
But Speaker John Mickel says there are no avenues of appeal, and the courts could not interfere in the running of parliament.
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