Palaszczuk stands by Curtis Pitt

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has thrown her support behind Curtis Pitt over allegations he mislead parliament.

Annastacia Palaszczuk looks on as Curtis Pitt speaks

Annastacia Palaszczuk has backed Curtis Pitt following allegations he mislead state parliament. (AAP)

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is "absolutely confident" former treasurer Curtis Pitt has done nothing wrong following allegations he mislead state parliament over a Queensland Rail pay deal.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington last week said she would write to outgoing speaker Peter Wellington to recommend Mr Pitt be referred to the parliamentary Ethics Committee.

Ms Palaszczuk was asked about the matter when she returned to work after her Christmas break on Monday.

The premier said the LNP's decision was a matter for them but she was "absolutely confident" Mr Pitt had done nothing wrong.

"I have the utmost faith in Curtis Pitt and he has been endorsed by the caucus to be the nominee for speaker," she said.

Ms Frecklington said the LNP had documents that showed the former treasurer signed a draft direction instructing the QR board to accept a new enterprise agreement with the unions in late 2016.

But in February 2017, he told the parliament he had not issued a direction to the trouble-plagued organisation.

He did say both he and then-transport minister Stirling Hinchliffe had "put very clearly our views of what should be happening in this space on the record and to the board for their consideration".

Mr Pitt has denied the claims.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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