Newman knew of LNP's donation worries

QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman knew weeks ago that the Liberal National Party was worried about a political donation to his transport chief.

But Mr Newman kept silent about his party's concerns, even as his government forced Michael Caltabiano to step aside amid claims he misled parliament on another issue.

The LNP has referred to police concerns about past political donations to Mr Caltabiano and federal Liberal Party vice president and lobbyist Santo Santoro.

On Friday, the premier said he learned of his party's concerns some time ago, before Mr Caltabiano was forced to step aside over a separate matter.

"I have been made aware of their (the LNP's) sort of concerns a couple of weeks ago and they've taken it to police," he told reporters.

Mr Caltabiano stood aside last week from his job as the director-general of transport and main roads.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) is investigating possible official misconduct relating to the appointment of Arts Minister Ros Bates's son Ben Gommers as a liaison officer in Mr Caltabiano's department.

Meanwhile, parliament's ethics committee is considering if Mr Caltabiano misled a budget estimates hearing about whether he had a previous professional relationship with Mr Gommers.

Mr Newman said he didn't know if Mr Caltabiano had offered to resign.

"I simply don't know," he said.

"I in no way want to be accused of contaminating any investigation so I have not, at any time, had a conversation with him."

It's been alleged private investment company Brescia Investments financed a long-running slush fund for selected candidates and MPs within the Liberal Party and later within the LNP.

The Australian newspaper has cited documents showing the company declared to the Queensland Electoral Commission that Mr Caltabiano received a $20,400 donation in 2009 - purportedly to cover the cost of a campaign billboard.

At the time, Mr Caltabiano was not a party official or candidate, although his wife Andrea was running for the eastern Brisbane state seat of Chatsworth.

LNP officials have reportedly told police they were unaware of the donation and that it should have been directed through party headquarters.

The premier said he had no regrets about hiring Mr Caltabiano - a former Liberal Party president - for the transport job.

He said he'd done a good job sorting out the department.

"But I am concerned about these issues raised. That's why they're being investigated," he said.

"If there is a police investigation, a CMC investigation and an ethics inquiry, guess what? Someone's going to work out what's gone on here and I think we should wait and see."

Mr Newman was asked on Friday if he'd ever received donations from Brescia Investments.

He said if that had happened, he assumed they would have been declared.

Brescia is a private investment vehicle for developer Silvio Pradella, a generous donor to the Liberals, and to a lesser extent Labor.

Mr Pradella was appointed to the Brisbane City Council Urban Futures Brisbane board when Mr Newman was mayor.

But the premier said he was not concerned about the fact that donations from Mr Pradella's company had been referred to police.

He said CMC investigations during the election campaign had cleared him of any wrongdoing.

"Don't you think by now that anything like this is more of the same?"

Queensland police have confirmed they've received a complaint regarding the allegations against Mr Caltabiano and Mr Santoro, and the matter is being considered.

AAP has sought comment from both men.

Mr Santoro has told The Australian he took a "loan" from Brescia and the money had since been repaid.

"There was nothing political about that loan, it was a commercial transaction which was declared at the time," he said.

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