Qld govt reveals mango email mystery man

Energy Queensland director Mark Algie has been revealed as the person put forward for a job in emails sent to Labor minister Mark Bailey in 2016.

Queensland LNP leader Deb Frecklington addresses media in Brisbane.

Queensland LNP leader Deb Frecklington has called for Labor minister Mark Bailey's sacking. (AAP)

The person at the centre of a furore over a state government minister's use of his private email account has now been revealed as Energy Queensland executive Mark Algie.

The Queensland government has confirmed Mr Algie's name had been blacked out in publicly released emails sent between Electrical Trades Union state secretary Peter Simpson and then-energy minister Mark Bailey in 2016.

The email included a resume which was passed on by Mr Bailey to his chief-of-staff, with Mr Algie appointed to the board of Energy Queensland in October 2016 as one of five new directors on the newly formed board.

Liberal National Party opposition leader Deb Frecklington has called for Mr Bailey's immediate sacking.

In a statement on Thursday, current Energy Minister Anthony Lynham said Mr Algie had impeccable credentials and was chosen for the Energy Queensland position on merit.

"His experience in workplace relations was invaluable in the merger of Queensland's energy companies, earning the respect of workers involved in the process who endorsed his appointment to the board," Dr Lynham said.

"He was subject to normal board-appointment selection processes including the endorsement of cabinet."

The revelation is the latest twist in the now long-running saga of Mr Bailey's use of a private email account - mangocube6@yahoo.co.uk - for official government business.

Ms Frecklington on Thursday called for Mr Bailey's immediate sacking, and said the revelation of Mr Algie's identity should make every Queenslander angry.

"The ETU got their handpicked candidate onto the Energy Queensland board," she said.

"The whole Labor Cabinet signed off on this appointment. Who else in the cabinet was doing the union's bidding?"

Earlier on Thursday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she didn't need to ask Mr Bailey about who was referred to in the censored email, a day after saying she would look into the matter.

She told reporters she had made an effort.

"I did look into it, I looked into the tabled document and the tabled document had been redacted through right-to-information laws."

The premier said the issue had been investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The corruption watchdog ruled the emails in Mr Bailey's account did not breach any laws.

But it said the very act of using a private email for government business raised the suspicion of corrupt conduct, and instructed MPs to avoid the practice in future.


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Source: AAP



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