OPPOSITION leader Lawrence Springborg has been forced into an embarrassing apology and the Liberal National Party MPs will change the way they pay restaurant bills following revelations of a boozy night out in Cairns.

The Cairns Post’s exclusive report about what has been dubbed "Fettagate", an LNP dinner at Fetta’s Greek Taverna that ended with two MPs being chased down the street to settle their bill, dominated Question Time in State Parliament yesterday.

With her deputy, Paul Lucas, waving a copy of The Cairns Post’s front page, Premier Anna Bligh repeatedly mocked the Opposition, saying Mr Springborg was mired in a "Greek tragedy of epic proportions".

"Fettagate is now alive and well in Cairns. It is a question of leadership," she said.

Earlier, an embarrassed Mr Springborg called Fetta’s Greek Taverna restaurant owner George Karagianis to say sorry after two MPs, including Member for Robina Ray Stevens, left the restaurant without paying their share of the bill.

The incident came after a long dinner attended by about 20 MPs and party officials following the historic sitting of Parliament in Cairns on October 29. Mr Springborg conceded the MPs’ restaurant runner was out of order.

"It’s not professional," he said.

"It shouldn’t happen."

Mr Stevens denied having a boozy night, saying he had not realised there was an outstanding amount.

"(There was) absolutely no runner or a bolter or anything," Mr Stevens said.

"I actually tipped the little Spanish waiter while I was there on the night — a $5 cash tip."

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