Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has denied his department is using bullying tactics to silence the state's nurses union.
It came after his director-general wrote to the Queensland Nurses Union threatening court action over what he called the unlawful use of a photo in anti-privatisation pamphlets.
The union has been told to remove the image - an artist's impression of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital - and apologise for breaching copyright laws.
Union spokeswoman Beth Mohle says the letter is an attempt to stop the group protesting against the privatisation of the state's health sector.
"If they think this is going to stop our campaigning activity then they can be assured it certainly won't," she told AAP on Saturday.
"We received the letter the same day Mr Springborg announced he is going to privatise Sunshine Coast University Hospital."
Ms Mohle says the union is seeking legal advice before responding to the letter.
Queensland Health Director General Tony O'Connell has told the union if they don't remove the image within five days he will ask the owner of the photo to take court action against them.
"(I will) support any claim for compensation for the unauthorised use and attempt to denigrate the value of the images," he wrote in a letter to the union.
Mr Springborg denies Mr O'Connell is using bullying tactics to silence the union.
"All we're seeking to do is to remind them that they can not publish this stuff without the express consent of Exemplar Health Ltd (which owns the image)," he told ABC.
He says the letter isn't a diversion away from the bigger issue of the privatisation of the health sector.
"We're proposing to sell no hospitals," Mr Springborg said.
"All we're talking about is looking at other people we might be able to contract to run free public health services.
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