An Integrity Commission report was released on Wednesday which detailed how Mr Brooks tried to cover up communications from his business email account for Mining Maintenance Solutions.

While he was cleared of any material conflict of interest during his time managing the Resources portfolio, the commission found he misled Premier Will Hodgman three times in writing over his involvement with his company which he was apparently divesting from.

When he was exposed as having used the account in 2016, he spent hours deleting and transferring emails and then suggested Mr Hodgman order an audit of his account to clear the air.

Crown Solicitor Alan Morgan told the Integrity Commission he had sought unimpeded access to the email account, including all deleted emails, but had struck legal challenges from Mr Brooks and his former wife.

This changed the scope of the audit and delayed progress.

“Mr Morgan’s audit, had it obtained the emails subsequently obtained by the Commission, in all likelihood would have identified that Mr Brooks had been participating in decisions concerning the operations of MSS and had been provided information in relation to MSS that was not otherwise in the public domain, contrary to the Premier’s expectations.” the report said. 

Mr Hodgman told Parliament on Wednesday night it was convention that a minister could be indemnified for their legal matters which arose when they served in the role.

He said following advice from the Solicitor-General, the government agreed to do so for Mr Brooks for "reasonable costs".

Mr Hodgman said Mr Brooks had so far been reimbursed $57,888 in legal fees.

He said there were further costs outstanding but given the Integrity Commission report, he had asked the Solicitor-General to review the original payment and further invoices and whether further indemnity should be provided.

Earlier in the day, Parliament voted to have Mr Brooks referred to the Privileges Committee in the wake of the Integrity Commission report.

According to the motion, the committee will need to report back to Parliament on the first sitting day next year.

Labor leader Rebecca White said a majority of the 125 emails deleted by Mr Brooks were to do with business management and not personal affairs as he had claimed.

“When people like Adam Brooks get away with blatant lies, it reflects badly on all of us,” she said.

“If the Premier refuses to uphold appropriate standards, then the Parliament must step in.”

Mr Hodgman said the commission found that Mr Brooks was in no way influenced by his business interests while making ministerial decisions and there was no identifiable decision which could result in a personal advantage to him or his relatives.

He said the commission found that Mr Brooks had taken reasonable steps to avoid a material conflict of interest.