Australian minister resigns for breaching code of conduct

Feb 12, 2016, 11:28
Australian minister resigns for breaching code of conduct

Bill Shorten says Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took too long to remove Stuart Robert after he was found to have breached ministerial standards on a 2014 trip to China.

While Robert has insisted that he traveled to China in a "personal capacity", Labor has been calling for his dismissal, describing the visit as inappropriate since Nimrod's executive chairman, Paul Marks, is a known Liberal Party donor, according to ABC News.

"Mr Robert recognised that this connection would create the impression that at the time he went to Beijing he had something personally to gain from the Nimrod Resources project", Mr Turnbull said.

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Turnbull said Friday that the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, who he assigned to conduct the probe, "concluded that Mr Robert had acted inconsistently with the Statement of Ministerial Standards, although he accepts that Mr Robert may not have meant to do so".

Mr Robert's removal will be included in a broad ministerial reshuffle following the retirement announcements from former Nationals leader Warren Truss and Trade Minister Andrew Robb.

Robert had obtained leave for the private trip. "He further advised Dr Parkinson that he believed Metallum Holdings Pty Ltd had an interest in Nimrod Resources".

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"I didn't think that our Liberal ministers needed it explained to them that their job is to work for the people of Australia, not to squire rich, fat-cat Liberal donors around the capitals of the world", Mr Shorten said in Sydney.

"What we have here is allegations he met people", Mr Joyce said. Bowen said Treasurer Scott Morrison - who is close to Robert - had overnight gone in to bat for Robert "for internal factional reasons".

The Labor Opposition was using the affair as a test of is authority and decisiveness, and was ready to escalate attacks had Mr Robert been cleared.

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On his arrival in Singapore, Mr Robert was met by the Australian defence attache, as well as a Singapore government official.

Mr Robert has confirmed that the businessman, Li Ruipeng, presented himself and other coalition figures with Rolex watches, worth about $250,000 in total, which had since been returned.

It was also revealed on Thursday that Mr Robert hosted a 2013 dinner at Parliament House with a Chinese businessman, which was also attended by Mr Abbott and Mr Marks.

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