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Calls are growing for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to order a probe into integrity, with the Liberal National Party saying corruption "is running through the government".

LNP leader David Crisafulli and the Katter's Australian Party want a royal commission after the departure of three statutory officers, two of whom said the government had interfered in their roles.

Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov and Crime and Corruption chairperson Alan MacSporran both resigned this week, while former state achivist Mike Summerell revealed he was forced out by the government in March.

Mr Crisafulli says it's the state's biggest integrity crisis since the fall of the Bjelke-Petersen government 30 years ago.

The LNP leader has written to Ms Palaszczuk asking her to call for a royal commission.

"Anything short of a Royal Commission doesn't cut it," Mr Crisafulli told reporters on Friday.

"Only a royal commission will get to the bottom of the corruption that is running through the government."

The call for a probe comes after former state achivist Mike Summerell revealed he was forced out after being "greatly hindered" by "potentially inappropriate interference".

He unexpectedly left his role in March, hours after the LNP asked him to probe whether Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk used any of her private emails, which he was holding, for official government business.

Mr Summerell says his role became "compromised" 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.

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.

Earlier this week, Dr Stepanov said the Public Service Commission defunded her office and reduced its staff.

The commissioner also alleged that last year the PSC seized a laptop from her office and wiped its contents without her "knowledge or consent".

QCCL president Terry O'Gorman said the CCC was not in a position to investigate the "extraordinary allegation" about 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.

Premier Palaszczuk has downplayed the Integrity Commissioner's resignation, saying that "people change jobs all the time".

© AAP 2022

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has "not raised any issue" about his awkward encounter with former Australian of the Year Grace Tame at The Lodge earlier this week.

Ms Tame stood stony faced during a photograph with the prime minister and appeared reluctant to shake his hand at a morning tea for Australian of the Year finalists.

Ms Tame has been a vocal critic of the prime minister's and the government's handling of women's safety issues.

In his first public comments since the incident, Mr Morrison said he supported her advocacy and work during her tenure as Australian of the Year.

"When Jenny and I invite someone to our home, we greet them with a smile and they're always welcome, and that day was actually about all the finalists we came to celebrate," Mr Morrison told radio station 4BC on Friday.

"I haven't raised any issues about (the incident) - all I'm saying is we were there that day to celebrate those who had done an incredible job for our country."

Ms Tame had widespread support online following the incident, however she attracted criticism from some in the government, with one LNP senator calling it "childish".

Environment Minister Sussan Ley would not say whether the comments from her parliamentary colleagues were out of line, but added people were free to speak their mind.

"Grace Tame is a force of nature and being a leader for many women across Australia," she told ABC TV.

"The prime minister has done more for the issues of women than any other prime minister I have ever worked for, and in any other government."

The government came under intense criticism for its handling of the alleged 2019 rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in a federal minister's office, which became public last year.

Ms Tame said the government "doesn't get it", following its subsequent failure to pass all legislative reforms recommended by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.

© AAP 2022

New funding to protect the Great Barrier Reef will "back in" scientists to help preserve the natural wonder, according to the prime minister.

It comes after the federal government will spend $1 billion over the next nine years to help manage the reef, after the Commonwealth successfully lobbied UNESCO to delay a decision listing the site as "in danger".

Of the $1 billion funding, almost $580 million will go towards working with land managers to remediate erosion and improve land condition, while more than $250 million will be spent reducing threats from crown of thorns starfish and prevent illegal fishing.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the funding would help to keep the Great Barrier Reef off endangered lists.

"The reef is one of the great natural wonders not only of Australia, but the world, but it's also an important livelihood for everybody up in far north Queensland," he told radio station 4BC on Friday.

"We've been able to ensure that the reef not only remains protected, despite the many environmental challenges to the reef, but to ensure that its status has been able to be preserved."

The $1 billion funding will also provide $92 million for research to make the reef more resilient and boost adaptation strategies.

Traditional owners and community groups will receive $74 million for projects to deal with species protection, habitat restoration and citizen science.

The funds come on top of $2 billion previously given to agencies including the marine park authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Mr Morrison said the money was targeted to ensure it has the great impact in protecting the reef.

"There's a lot of work going on up there, and we've got the best reef scientists in the world and we've got the best reef managers in the world," he said.

"What we're doing is we're backing them in to ensure that they can do best possible job."

The funding comes after the federal government lobbied UNESCO to delay a decision about listing the reef as "in danger" until 2023.

Australia took diplomats on a diving trip as part of its bid to convince countries to vote against an earlier draft recommendation supporting an "in danger" listing.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the money would help protect the more than 64,000 jobs in Queensland that rely on the Great Barrier Reef.

"The biggest ever investment in any reef internationally will set us up, help build the most healthy and resilient reef in the face of climate change and all the other challenges we face," she told ABC TV.

Ms Ley said UNESCO officials had been invited back to examine the reef.

Environmental groups have welcomed the funding announcement for the reef.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society said legacy issues such as erosion and land condition was a gap that needed addressing.

"Given the health crisis the reef is facing and the slow progress in addressing water pollution to date, it's important this investment in water quality is front-loaded over the next three years," the society's water quality expert Jaimi Webster said.

"While this funding commitment will tackle some of the local threats our reef faces, it does not address climate change, the greatest threat to our reef."

© AAP 2022