BRISBANE Feb 23 AAP - Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says the details of the contract signed by sacked Transport and Main Roads Director-General Michael Caltabiano were a matter for bureaucrats and he is restricted from commenting on it.

He was speaking at the Australia Day 2 initiative in his electorate of Ashgrove in Brisbane's inner north on Saturday.

Mr Newman has previously said he was originally keen on Mr Caltabiano's appointment, but he has refused to make any further remarks.

Asked by AAP if he had a hand in the contract negotiations, Mr Newman said those were matters for bureaucrats.

However, he did add that he had insisted that the payout figure in all contracts was reduced from four years to six months.

"We inherited that from the previous government which had a four years payout clause but we changed that when we got into power. We felt that was outrageous.

"Instead of getting four years pay Mr Caltabiano will receive about six months and that is what we intended when making the changes to save money for Queenslanders," he said.

Asked if there were any clauses in Mr Caltabiano's contract which prevented disclosure of any impropriety, Mr Newman said he was unable to answer that question.

He said there were privacy clauses in contracts which meant it would be inappropriate to comment.

It would also be inappropriate to comment on whether any other government bureaucrats had such protection in their contracts.

Mr Caltabiano has earned almost $200,000 since standing down on full pay in October.

He had been appointed within three days of the LNP taking power last March.

Mr Newman has refused to elaborate on why he had decided to end Mr Caltabiano's employment as of March 15.