Donaldson, who was the first woman to serve as Agriculture Minister in Queensland Parliament, tendered her resignation after it was revealed that she owed $8000 in missed rates to the Bundaberg Regional Council and that she drove an unregistered vehicle.

Her debts were subsequently settled by the Queensland Labor Party.

“[On Wednesday] I advised the House that the rates on my family home had been in arrears and that the amount owing to the Bundaberg Regional Council had been paid,” Donaldson said in Parliament on Thursday.

“I further advised the House that there has been no deliberate attempt to avoid paying the rates on my home.

“On this matter I have not met the expectations I set for myself as your representative.

“I have taken steps to ensure this does not happen again and that future bills are paid promptly. There is no excuse for this and I offer none. Instead, I offer my sincere apologies for letting you down.”

It also emerged that in 2014, as a single mother and at the time looking for work and eventually only working part time, Donaldson missed mortgage payments, and was warned by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“Clearly this does not meet the high standards set by the Premier for all members of the Government,” Donaldson said.

“I therefore informed the Premier tonight of my decision to resign as a minister.”

The shock decision will leave farmers in a bind, with no resolution as of yet to the controversial land-clearing laws which saw protestors march on Parliament in August.

It is not yet known when a replacement will be named.