Exactly how much money the premier's chief of staff receives has become the latest salvo in the ongoing war of words between the state opposition and the government.
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Keen to capitalise on the recent politician pay rise debacle from earlier this month, the opposition used a budget estimates hearing to question Campbell Newman about the salary package his chief strategist Ben Myers receives.
Mr Newman was unable to provide an answer during Tuesday's hearing, despite Mr Myers sitting next to him while he was being questioned.
The Premier said the information would be tabled as a document. That document put Mr Myers' pay at a CEO5.1 level, but did not give a figure.
The public service commission said on Thursday that Mr Myers earns $264,000 a year.
Ms Palaszczuk said after “doing some research”, “we've found an equivalent level for 5.1CEO level and that is a package that amounts to some $400,000”.
That figure would put Mr Myers' salary at a similar level to what Mr Newman is currently receiving after a 42 per cent pay increase, which included a pay bump on the allowances paid to office bearers. Mr Newman's ongoing rate of pay will be decided by a Queensland remuneration tribunal in October.
Ms Palaszczuk says she hopes there has not been a “cover up” regarding Mr Myers' pay and called on the Premier to detail his staff member's total salary package, including allowances, vehicle and superannuation entitlements.
“This is a government that promised to be open and transparent,” she said.
“They haven't given us the information.
“I now want the premier to come clean and state categorically what his chief of staff is paid.
“The Premier did not provide the response to the question therefore I maintain that the premier may have deliberately misled the estimates hearing…in omitting to detail the answer to the question.”
Ms Palaszczuk said she would write to the Speaker about the issue.
A spokesman for Mr Newman described Ms Palaszczuk's claims as “complete and utter nonsense”.
“The specific pay point for the Premier's chief of staff was provided to the committee on Tuesday and the dollar figure was available from the Public Service Commission to anyone who asked,” he said.
“This is just another example of a lazy opposition jumping the gun, making wild claims and not doing any real work.”
Mr Myers has worked with Mr Newman since 2004, when he became part of his strategy and communications team, before Mr Newman's first Brisbane mayoral victory.
During his estimates hearing, Mr Newman stressed that ministerial staffing numbers had been reduced by 11 under his government adding “we have worked very hard to keep a lid on expenditures in those areas”.
Mr Newman made mention of a former chief of staff to Anna Bligh, Mike Kaiser, who was revealed to have received a salary package which exceeded $268,000, after the former premier approved a $100,000 pay rise for the role in 2008.
