Queensland's premier has sacked an assistant minister for "breaching cabinet solidarity".
Premier Campbell Newman says Assistant Health Minister Chris Davis was sacked with immediate effect on Tuesday afternoon.
"Dr Davis' recent actions have breached the long-established Westminster convention of cabinet solidarity and made his position untenable," Mr Newman said in a brief statement.
"I thank Dr Davis for the contribution he has made in the role, and look forward to his continuing contribution to the government's efforts on behalf of his constituents."
Dr Davis has publicly broken ranks with the Newman government a number of times in recent months.
A letter he'd written warning Liberal National Party colleagues that new individual doctors contracts could compromise patient safety was leaked to media in March.
The letter was never actually sent, but the leak led to Health Minister Lawrence Springborg to hold a crisis meeting with Dr Davis to confirm his loyalty.
A few weeks later, he told public hospital doctors he shared their concerns about the new contracts.
Dr Davis then threatened to resign if the dispute over the contracts wasn't resolved on April 30.
Then last week the assistant minister caused the government to amend its plans to reform the state's corruption watchdog after hinting he would cross the floor and vote against them.
Comment has been sought from Dr Davis, but the premier's office said he would remain a government MP.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the timing of the announcement was a "sneaky political manoeuvre designed to avoid scrutiny".
"There is only one word that describes the premier's actions in sacking his assistant health minister one hour before the federal budget is handed down: weak," she said in a statement.
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