THE Queensland opposition insists Arts Minister Ros Bates is well enough to attend parliament and answer tough questions about her links to a senior bureaucrat.
The opposition planned to grill Ms Bates during this week's parliamentary sittings about her involvement with Transport and Main Roads director-general Michael Caltabiano, but the minister has taken leave and is said to be unable to work because of a medical procedure she underwent some time ago.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says Ms Bates should at least attend question time.
"She's only required to attend one hour a day for question time," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters on Sunday.
"She doesn't have to drive herself. She has a driver and after that hour of question time she can rest in her ministerial suite."
Ms Palaszczuk said former Labor ministers have had serious ailments, but at least turned up to question time, including one who was undergoing chemotherapy.
"I would understand if (Ms Bates) was in hospital or if she was bed-ridden," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"It seems to be ironic that the same day Mr Caltabiano stood aside is the same day Ms Bates decided to take leave."
Mr Caltabiano stood aside from his $500,000-a-year job on full pay last week after allegations that he had misled parliament about having worked for lobby firm Entree Vous, which Ms Bates used to own and which he had helped to set up.
The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) is investigating the appointment of Ms Bates's son Ben Gommers as a senior liaison officer for Mr Caltabiano's department. The 25-year-old is earning about $103,000 a year.
Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls issued Ms Bates's medical certificate on Saturday to prove she was ill.
"Minister Bates has taken leave, which was approved by the premier, on the basis of advice from her surgeon that she is unable to work following an operation," Mr Nicholls said in a statement on Saturday.
The opposition also dubbed Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey and Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps as "ministers missing in action", claiming they were also planning to skip this sitting week.
Mr Cripps's office denied this, saying the minister will attend parliament after his application for a trade mission was knocked back.
Ms Stuckey will be in Cairns for an event on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, but is expected to be present for question time on both days, the government says.
AAP peb/m
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