Qld govt faces cash-for-contracts claims THE Queensland government is facing cash-for-contracts allegations as it tries to move on from the resignation of arts and IT minister Ros Bates. Ms Bates quit Premier Campbell Newman's cabinet last week, 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 extended absences for health reasons. On Monday, The Courier-Mail said an official working in Ms Bates' department allegedly offered to help secure contracts for a respected Brisbane company in exchange for a significant sum of cash. The paper said the family-owned IT company, Technology One, immediately reported the allegation to a senior staff member in the trouble-prone former minister's office. But it's unclear whether the allegation last September concerning the staffer from the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts was ever passed on to authorities. The paper said Technology One management was unavailable for comment, but the allegation the public servant was seeking cash for contracts was being widely discussed in the IT industry. A spokesman for Premier Campbell Newman told the paper the allegation had never been raised with his office, and they had not asked Ms Bates about it. The opposition says Ms Bates must be questioned about the allegation, given she remains an MP in Mr Newman's government. Since Ms Bates quit the ministry on Friday, it's emerged her friend Kaye Martin was working as a $1500-a-day contractor to her department, while also acting as a Screen Queensland board member. "You can either be a consultant or a board member, but you can't be both," Ms Bates's temporary replacement John-Paul Langbroek said on the weekend. The premier has defended his former minister's decision to appoint a friend to the board position, saying he'd be surprised if Ms Bates had known about Ms Martin's dual role. AAP has sought comment from Technology One and the Newman government. Mrs Martin has since said she's not a "close friend" of the former minister and she doesn't know why Ms Bates described her that way during her maiden speech to parliament. I do like her but she's not my sister," Mrs Martin told The Courier-Mail.