Pitt slams LNP over 'Campbell coins'

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has used magic tricks and Game of Thrones references in parliament to criticise the former government for wasting money on commemorative coins.

Mr Pitt says the former Liberal National Party government spent almost $10,000 on coins, some bearing former premier Campbell Newman's name, to give to visiting dignitaries.

"The former premier's arrogance knew no bounds," he told parliament on Tuesday. "This is all about a self-indulgent ego trip."

The treasurer then went for laughs, recalling how as a kid he'd enjoy his grandfather's trick of pulling a coin out from behind his ear.

Mr Pitt then repeated the same trick in parliament using what he'd dubbed a "Campbell coin".

"And Mr Speaker, look it's magic time today," he said to laughter.

Mr Pitt then went further, referring to popular TV show Game of Thrones and having a dig at former Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie.

"If I had a coin for every dollar that the LNP had wasted while in office, I'd be Master of Coins," Mr Pitt said.

"I'd be the Master of Coins sitting next to the Member for Kawana Joffrey Baratheon."

Mr Pitt continued, suggesting the former government flipped the coins to decide on its most controversial decisions, like the unpopular Strong Choices privatisation campaign.

But former treasurer Tim Nicholls didn't see the funny side, later attacking Labor for its own blunders, including the $1.2 billion health payroll debacle during its last term in office.

"Obviously, we've got a treasurer more interested in jokes and pulling rabbits out of a hat than we have in concentrating on the matters that are of concern to Queenslanders," Mr Nicholls said.

Almost half of the 1000 coins minted were found in storage when the new Labor government moved in to its offices.