Queensland Energy Minister Mark Bailey deletes private email account
Updated
A review has been launched into the extent to which Queensland ministers use their personal email, after the state's Energy Minister deleted his account which had received emails from a union boss.
Mark Bailey's Yahoo email dominated State Parliament's Question Time on Tuesday, after the account was wiped, reportedly following a Right-to-Information request.
The Australian reported last month that Electrical Trades Union state secretary had contacted Mr Bailey through the email about the merger of two superannuation funds.
Mr Bailey said he had deleted the 20-year-old account because he thought the Premier wanted him to.
It is not clear when it was shut down.
"I do not have control [over] who emails me and there's a lot of people that have that account," Mr Bailey said.
"I deleted the account so the only account is my ministerial account.
"It is consistent with what the Premier advised."
Opposition MPs tried to capitalised on the situation in Question Time, with one alleging on Twitter that Mr Bailey had sabotaged his personal email.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls repeatedly asked the Premier if she will make Mr Bailey retrieve his deactivated account.
"So that any official documents can be archived according to the law?" Mr Nicholls asked.
Premier orders review
After repeated questioning, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would seek a review.
She said all Cabinet ministers' work-related calls and emails needed to be done through the official phone that is provided to them.
"I expect the Minister involved to abide by the law," she said.
"So if the law says he must retrieve those emails, he must retrieve those emails, pure and simple.
"I am going to ask my director-general to review this issue with the department of ministerial services."
Two staff members in another department have been counselled after using a Gmail account late last year.
That matter has been referred to the Integrity Commissioner.
Topics: state-parliament, government-and-politics, laws, brisbane-4000, qld
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