Qld minister won't release military record

Queensland's police minister says he won't release his military record because he doesn't want the state opposition to use it for political purposes.

Queensland Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne

Queensland's police minister has reneged on a promise to release his military records. (AAP)

Queensland's police minister says he has reneged on a promise to release his military records to protect himself from an opposition smear campaign.

Bill Byrne earlier this year disputed allegations he discharged a gun into his roof in front of his wife when he was an army officer.

The minister, who was an army major until 1999, at the time said he had no problem with people seeing his military records, but The Courier-Mail newspaper has reported its Freedom of Information request to view the record had been rejected.

Mr Byrne told parliament on Tuesday he opposed the release of the records because he didn't want the Liberal National Party opposition to use them to try to gain political mileage.

"I've had a look at my own record - that doesn't mean I have to make it available to the Liberal National Party," Mr Byrne said.

"When I said I was happy for people to see my military record, I don't think of the Liberal National Party as people.

"The purpose the Liberal National Party want my record (for) is clear and evident and there is no way I'm going to co-operate or collaborate with this intrigue from the Liberal National Party."

Mr Byrne said his military records weren't in the public interest and wouldn't "enliven the debate" in parliament.

"I will protect my privacy - end of story," he said.

Mr Byrne had also come under fire for admitting to firing his .22 calibre rifle at rats in the roof cavity of his Rockhampton home more than 20 years ago.

He made the admission while rejecting ongoing rumours about discharging his weapon in front of his wife.

"This has been a deeply personal smear campaign against me," Mr Byrne said in a statement in February.


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Source: AAP



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