QUEENSLAND'S crime watchdog is digging into cash-for-contracts allegations involving the department of former arts and IT minister Ros Bates.
An official working in Ms Bates' department allegedly offered to help secure contracts for a Brisbane IT company in exchange for a significant sum of cash.
A spokesman for Premier Campbell Newman said on Monday the matter had been referred to the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC).
"We were not aware of the allegation as it had not been brought to our office," the spokesman said.
The Courier Mail newspaper reported the company, Technology One, immediately raised the allegation with a senior staff member in the office of the trouble-prone former minister.
Some industry insiders believe an approach was made to more than one company, and the specific cash sum sought was described by a senior source as being "more than the wage of the average bus driver".
In a statement to AAP on Monday, Technology One said it would not be commenting on the allegations.
It is not clear whether the allegation was ever passed on to authorities.
Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said Mr Newman should have moved faster.
"As soon as the premier became aware of these allegations, he should have referred them to the CMC instead of waiting almost 24 hours to act," Ms Palaszczuk said in a statement.
Ms Bates quit Premier Campbell Newman's cabinet last Friday, citing health and family reasons.
She had faced months of pressure over allegations of nepotism involving her son's government job, her contact with lobbyists and her extended absences for health reasons.
On Saturday morning, it was revealed that Ms Bates had appointed her friend Kaye Martin to a department contract and a board position with Screen Queensland.
Acting arts minister John-Paul Langbroek says Ms Bates' resignation and the fresh allegations aren't linked.
The revelation about Ms Martin's appointment was released in a bid to be open and accountable when the government became aware of the conflict of interest, he said.
He's asked Screen Queensland for Ms Martin's resignation.
Liberal National Party defector Alex Douglas has accused the government of using the media in a calculating way, saying the public should be asking why the government dropped such a damning story to the paper a day after Ms Bates' resignation.
"I think the story is very hollow and doesn't ring true," he told the ABC.
"It is a shameful way to run a government, and it is certainly not the way to treat people."
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