Trad denies Quirk probe involvement

Queensland's local government minister has denied having any involvement in Brisbane's lord mayor being referred to the state's corruption watchdog.

Jackie Trad was asked on Thursday whether she directed her department to refer a complaint to the Crime and Corruption Commission against Lord Mayor Graham Quirk over a land deal between council and a Liberal National Party donor.

"Absolutely not," Ms Trad, also the state's deputy premier, replied.

She also denied discussing the issue with Labor's mayoral candidate Rod Harding or council opposition leader Milton Dick.

"The matter is now being assessed by the appropriate authority and we'll allow them to do their assessment without political interference," she said.

East Coast Car Rental owner and LNP donor Boon Tan approached the council in April last year about buying the land, which was next to his car yard.

Council sought a ministerial exemption to sell the land to Mr Tan without going to tender, but Ms Trad last week rejected it.

The CCC emphasised it was only assessing - not investigating - the complaint and urged complaints to be made confidentially during the local government election campaign.

Queensland council elections will be held on March 19.