Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser says his decision to leak a confidential letter from mining magnate Clive Palmer to the media was not political.
Mr Fraser insists he was motivated by a desire to expose the Liberal National Party backer as a bully.
Mr Palmer has accused the Labor government of conspiring with rail operator QR National, which is one-third owned by the government, for commercial and political gain.
He is furious about media reports citing a letter his company, Waratah Coal, sent to Queensland Co-ordinator General Keith Davies about a proposed rail project in the Galilee Basin.
The letter asked Mr Davies to explain why he had granted QR National's rail proposal significant project status.
It said the decision was in conflict with the significant project status granted to Waratah Coal's China First rail project in 2008.
QR National and China First had been in talks to build one multi-user rail corridor.
'We have not and do not consent to their (QR National's) use of our proprietary planning, engineering and confidential information for this improper declaration,' the January 30 letter said.
Mr Palmer's company China First has told QR National it intends to sue for $8 billion in damages.
Another Palmer company Mineralogy, which owns Waratah Coal, also has shares in QR National.
Mr Fraser on Thursday admitting leaking Waratah Coal's letter to the co-ordinator general.
He had earlier leapt on media reports that cited the letter he leaked as a taste of what Queenslanders could expect under an LNP government.
On Thursday, the treasurer said Mr Davies had given him the letter because he was worried about its threatening manner.
'I made it available in the public arena because this is a letter which is threatening, intimidating and bullying against a senior public servant,' Mr Fraser told ABC Radio.
Mr Palmer has said he'll ask the Crime and Misconduct Commission to investigate the passing of the letter to Mr Fraser.
'All Queensland public servants, I believe, sign documents when they are appointed saying they will deal with matters they are dealing with in a confidential manner in accordance with government policies and that would bind the co-ordinator general,' he said.
Mr Fraser said Mr Palmer's wild conspiracy claims didn't amount to anything.
'Mr Palmer's project has been given the same status as the project being put forward by Gina Rinehart, with her company Hancock and her Indian investor partners,' he said.
'BHP, which is QR National's chief competitor, has been given a significant project status against QR National.'
Australian Catholic University political analyst Scott Prasser said Mr Fraser's decision to distribute the letter in the public domain was political and set a dangerous precedent.
'Should you write a letter of complaint to the government, even if you use heated language - and we all lose our cool at times - should that be put in the public domain? That's the issue,' Prof Prasser told ABC Radio.
'They shouldn't go in the public domain.
'A letter came in from a legal firm representing a very powerful person involved with the LNP. We are in election mode.
'What's the purpose of putting it out in the public domain? To do damage to Mr Palmer.'
Mr Palmer, who threatened to sue Premier Anna Bligh for defamation before the 2009 election, has denied his current legal action is politically motivated.
On Thursday, he said he speaks to LNP president Bruce McIver nearly every day but denied there would be any back-scratching if the LNP won the March 24 election.
Mr Palmer said he had not met with LNP leader Campbell Newman or parliamentary opposition leader Jeff Seeney to discuss the Galilee Basin project.
He said it was Mr Fraser who was politically driven, and denied bullying or intimidating anyone.
'All we have done is sent a letter saying these are our concerns - can you please answer them,' Mr Palmer said.
Mr Palmer on Wednesday said he had not, and would not, be making any financial donations to the LNP this financial year in protest against Labor legislation that caps political donations from businesses, but not unions.
He was the LNP's biggest donor in the last financial year, contributing $660,000 to the party's coffers.
