Neil Breen ‘sets government straight’ amid release of Mangocube scandal emails
Chains of emails linked with the state government’s ‘Mangocube’ scandal have finally been released.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has been plagued by the scandal for years, over the use of his private email for government business.
A report into the saga was completed in 2017 by former state archivist Mike Summerell but has only now come to light at the request of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee.
The investigation details conversations between Mr Bailey and then-Electrical Trades Union state secretary Peter Simpson about upcoming Cabinet issues.
There is no indication the Minister followed direction by the union.
The private emails also revealed Mr Bailey was sent a list of bureaucrats believed to favour the LNP.
Another chain showed concerns of losing voters if a project wasn’t approved.
In a statement provided to Breakfast with Neil Breen, a Palaszczuk government spokesperson said:
“The independent watchdog, the CCC, fully investigated and dealt with this matter in 2017.
“Minister Bailey was cleared of any wrongdoing.“
Neil Breen said while he was cleared of corrupt dealings, the use of a personal email account breached ministerial policies.
“They didn’t charge him with corruption but they said ‘hey, you did the wrong thing here’,” he said.
“So don’t listen to the government say he was cleared; he wasn’t cleared, he was admonished.
“If anyone thinks it’s cool for the ETU to know what’s going on in Cabinet, … if anyone doesn’t think that’s wrong, I can’t help you.”
Press PLAY below to hear Neil Breen lay out the latest updates in full and weigh in on the evidence
Image: Annastacia Palaszczuk / Twitter