Framed pictures of Pope Francis (L-R), Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II hang on the wall inside the Gammarelli tailor shop in Rome February 11, 2014. As the Vatican prepares to welcome 19 prelates to the high rank of cardinal, Pope Francis' call fo
Framed pictures of Pope Francis (L-R), Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II hang on the wall inside the Gammarelli tailor shop in Rome February 11, 2014. As the Vatican prepares to welcome 19 prelates to the high rank of cardinal, Pope Francis' call for frugality has had little effect on business for the Gammarelli family, suppliers of sumptuous clerical robes for more than two centuries. Picture taken February 11, 2014. REUTERS/Max Rossi

The final day of Queensland budget estimates has heard a debate over the damage done to a ministerial office from 27 photo hooks.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey revealed Scott Emerson, his predecessor, had dedicated a wall for his photographs. According to Bailey, it took $1,400 to repair the damage caused by as many as 27 photo hooks.

"I found 27 hooks and screws and damage in the wall and I have been advised the former minister, the member for Indooroopilly, had the wall covered in pictures of himself with other people but had left an extraordinary level of damage on the wall that required $1400 worth of work," Fairfax Media quoted Bailey, “I imagine if this was the sort of damage that was done in a domestic house, you wouldn't really get your bond back.”

Bailey said it was a “big fail” in terms of interior design. "Leaving these divots and hooks all over the place, when if he wanted to hang up lots of pictures of himself with other people, he could have easily gone down to Bunnings and my research shows that about $38.94 will buy you, Member for Indooroopilly, about 30 hooks that are stick on, they don't destroy a wall, they don't damage a wall, they don't require a repair by taxpayer funds,” he added.

ABC reported Rob Molhoek, Emerson’s LNP colleague, tried defending him. He said there was no evidence it was Emerson who had been responsible for the hooks. Those could have been there from previous times, he said.

Bailey, however, dismissed the argument as he said he remembered how the wall had looked in 2012 before Emerson took office. He said there was only one picture on the wall in a “very neat and presentable” manner. “It certainly did not have 27 hooks and screws and divots all over it," he added.

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