Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has been cleared of allegations she threatened, intimidated and bullied Cairns MP Rob Pyne in the lead-up to his defection from the Labor Party.
Mr Pyne, who quit to become an independent in March, clashed with Ms Trad late last year over his requests for an inquiry into alleged local government corruption.
He alleged that in mid-October, one of his approved speaking slots was improperly withdrawn and the same day Ms Trad angrily complained about the bad timing of his planned local government speech.
"The deputy premier was swearing during this exchange and her behaviour was like she was ranting abuse," he said.
The next month Mr Pyne alleged he was bullied again by Ms Trad who, over the phone of another MP, subjected him to "full-on abuse" that deteriorated into a personal attack.
Mr Pyne claimed Ms Trad called him a "disloyal c***".
In disposing of the allegations, the committee turned to a document regarding parliamentary practice in New Zealand.
It stated that there can be no contempt unless there is a threat to do "something which is improper in itself".
The matter did not warrant further attention, the committee ruled.
Mr Pyne, a quadriplegic, also accused Housing Minister Mick de Brenni, the former party whip, of blocking his wheelchair on several occasions from December 2015.
That same month Mr de Brenni allegedly told the Cairns MP he wanted to hit him with a cricket bat.
He was also accused of interfering with Mr Pyne's microphone as he tried to speak in the House - a claim Mr de Brenni's lawyers dismissed as "objectively trivial, vexatious".
The committee ruled the first two allegations did not relate to Mr Pyne's free performance in his duties.
The committee, led by Labor's Mark Furner, also dismissed allegations Mr Pyne misled the House by tabling an inaccurate account of his accusations.
Share
