The solution premier Campbell Newman offered in response to the politician pay rise debacle was written off as too expensive by the most senior bureaucrat in his department almost one year ago.

In a briefing note prepared for Mr Newman in August 2012, director-general of the department of Premier and Cabinet Jon Grayson rejected the idea of a Queensland MP Remuneration Tribunal due to the “cost of establishing and maintaining” the body.

Premier Campbell Newman ignored advice not to proceed with the independent Queensland MP Remuneration Tribunal Credit:Harrison Saragossi

“Furthermore, if such a tribunal was established and its determinations were binding, the government and the parliament could not easily review or alter any determination should it be felt that the determination was not in keeping with community standards,” Mr Grayson advised.

Instead, Mr Grayson recommended linking Queensland MP salaries to the public service, in line with the decision made by New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, a move which was floated during the pay rise debate earlier this month and rejected by Mr Newman, despite his previous support for the proposal.