Ex-Premier Pamela Gordon did not get a head-of-Government house from Government -- but a housing allowance.

And Ms Gordon said she would not be leaving her Warwick home in the wake of the UBP losing power.

She said Cabinet had backed a $5,000-a-month allowance after she was warned by then-Police Commissioner Colin Coxall that her family home in North Hamilton posed an unacceptable security risk for a Premier. And she added that the allowance was envisaged as temporary while Government looked to buy a permanent Premier's home, which would be passed on to successors.

Ms Gordon said: "I leased the property myself and that was it. It was the only place which was available at the time.'' But she denied rumours that she was to buy the house, which is leased from a trust. She added, however, that she would keep the house on, although she would now be paying for it herself.

The cost per year of the house was estimated to be $60,000 -- a deal agreed by both sides of the House in the Budget debate earlier this year.

But -- shortly after winning a landslide General Election victory -- Premier Jennifer Smith ordered a probe into the terms of the lease, to be carried out by Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills.

It is understood the standard-style lease was seen and approved by the official Auditor Larry Dennis.

HOUSING HSG