Bates hits back over lobbyist allegations

Published: 12:09:51 PM, Mon 11 February 2013 UTC

Queensland Arts Minister Ros Bates says the accusation she failed to declare a lunch with lobbyists is a personal attack on her by the Opposition.

Ms Bates' diary details were released to the Opposition after a Right to Information request, and shows the Minister attended a lunch hosted by a major lobbying firm in August last year.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says Ms Bates failed to include the information in the official lobbyist contact register.

Ms Palaszczuk says it beggars belief there was no lobbying going on at an event full of competing lobbyists.

She says Ms Bates has lost all credibility and should step down.

Ms Bates says no lobbying took place.

"It was an industry lunch where I was the keynote speaker - I give those all the time, it's no different from any other," she said.

"I'm not going to be distracted by personal attacks from the Labor Party - I've got a big job to do."

Tags: ms bates, queensland, culture_politics, event, place, lunch, belief, right, labor party, accusation, political terms, arts, lobbyists, opposition leader annastacia, lobbying, minister ros bates, credibility, lobbyist contact register, personal attack, big job, industry lunch, keynote speaker, personal attacks, major lobbying firm, lobbyist allegations, diary details, information request

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