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PREMIER Anna Bligh has ordered two of her ministers to pay $8500 out of their own pockets for a brochure that breached state government advertising guidelines.
The one-page pamphlet, which came to the government's attention from the opposition during question time on Wednesday, features the name and picture of the Labor Member for Inala, Annastacia Palaszczuk, promoting a southeast Queensland rail project.
Advertising guidelines say publicly-funded state government and opposition advertising must not foster a positive impression of a particular political party or promote party-political interests.
However, Ms Palaszczuk's picture takes up the entire right corner of the pamphlet, and information in the pamphlet is attributed to her in direct quotes.
The breach follows the government's recent rejection of an opposition application for a publicly funded advertisement.
Ms Bligh on Wednesday told reporters that the advertisement was an unacceptable breach of the guidelines.
"My view is that is a breach of the guidelines in the use of a photo of a member of parliament," she said.
"That then puts it in the realm of promoting, or arguably promoting, a vote of support for that person."
Ms Bligh said the advertisement was initially approved by the Transport Department.
It was then approved by a staffer in Transport Minister Rachel Nolan's office.
As a result, Ms Bligh has ordered Ms Nolan and Ms Palaszczuk pay back the $8500 cost to taxpayers out of their own pockets.
"I've made it clear that (the advertisement) no further be distributed and that it be withdrawn from the website," she said.
Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek said the Bligh government had been caught red-handed using taxpayers' funds.
"The question is, how many more of these brochures are being done? How many other people are breaking the rules?" Mr Langbroek said.
"There should be a full audit across government."
