The charge was understood to relate to Mr Pluta's required appearance at a Crime and Corruption  Commission "star chamber" hearing related to Queensland Rail leaks.

It was alleged Mr Pluta told another person about his appearance for a secret interview in relation to a CCC investigation.

However, a charge of disclosure of a confidential document was dismissed in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday morning after an application for an adjournment was refused.

The offence carries a penalty of up to one year in jail.

Mr Pluta, who never worked for Queensland Rail, has been an outspoken critic of the rail operator, and has previously spoken about leaking information obtained from sources.

"I don't work for Queensland Rail so I can leak what I like," he told Fairfax Media in December 2016.

Mr Pluta previously made headlines after he obtained a report prepared by consultants Indec, which warned of train crew shortage in a draft report in January 2016, well-ahead of rolling cancellations which began in October 2016.

Mr Pluta said he wanted to warn people about the dangers of being a whistleblower.

However, a CCC spokesman has previously said the body did not discourage people from making public interest disclosures.

"It is committed to the objectives of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010, and to the protections it provides for those who make public interest disclosures contained within that act and other legislation," he said.

- with Toby Crockford