Mike Summerell has joined calls for an inquiry into the Palaszczuk government following the resignations of Integrity Commissioner Dr Nicola Stepanov and Crime and Corruption Commission chairperson Alan MacSporran.
He unexpectedly left his role in March last year, hours after the Liberal National Party asked him to probe whether Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk used any of her private emails, which he was holding, for government business.
Mr Summerell says, like Dr Stepanov, his independent statutory role was "compromised" for three years by potential government interference, including a lack of support and legal advice.
"My time as State Archivist post 2017 was greatly hindered by what I considered potentially inappropriate interference in my statutory role," he told News Corp on Friday.Â
At the time of his departure, Arts Minister Leanne Enoch said the archivist's five-year contract had run out, and he had decided not to renew it and move to New Zealand.
However, Mr Summerell said that is not what happened.
"I did not actually resign, I was simply told my contract would not be extended," he said.
"My own opinion is that my stance on matters of integrity and the independence of the office of the State Archivist were primary factors in that decision."
Mr Summerell supports an inquiry into the government's integrity, which is also backed by the LNP, crossbenchers, the Queensland Council of Civil Liberties, and the outgoing Integrity Commissioner.
Dr Stepanov has said the Public Service Commission defunded her office, reduced its staff, and she alleges that last year it seized a laptop from her office and wiped its contents without her "knowledge or consent".
QCCL president Terry O'Gorman said the CCC isn't the best agency to probe the "extraordinary allegation" regarding the laptop when it was effectively leaderless following Mr MacSporran's resignation.
He said the watchdog would take too long, and the public had lost confidence in it following a spate of botched probes last year.
"The CCC in not in a position to investigate ... not only because it is leaderless but also because it is too slow in finalising important inquiries and investigations", Mr O'Gorman said.
Katter's Australian Party MP Robbie Katter said only an independent probe could ensure there were no "abuses of power".
"These days there's so many offices and activities designed to 'preserve the integrity' of the state government, but they seem to miss the mark when it really matters," Mr Katter told AAP.
"There is still so much dodgy business that goes on at every level."
Greens MP Michael Berkman also backed an integrity probe, saying the government was too close to big business.
Premier Palaszczuk has downplayed the Integrity Commissioner's resignation, saying that "people change jobs all the time".
