Tuesday, February 09, 2016 4:26:50 AM
Malcolm Turnbull asks for investigation into minister Stuart Robert's China trip
"Kevin Andrews skips Parliament to address conservative lobby group in Washington on defence"
PM asks his department to investigate whether Robert breached ministerial standards by attending event to mark mining deal involving party donor
Stuart Robert at a signing ceremony with a mining company in China. Photograph:
China Minmetals Corporation
Daniel Hurst Political correspondent
@danielhurstbne
Monday 8 February 2016 00.56 EST
Last modified on Monday 8 February 2016 04.06 EST
Malcolm Turnbull .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/malcolm-turnbull .. has sought advice on whether the frontbencher Stuart Robert breached ministerial standards when he attended an event in China to celebrate a mining deal involving a major Liberal party donor.
The prime minister said while he had confidence in all of his ministers, he had asked his top bureaucrat to investigate the matter – a move that casts a shadow on Robert’s future as Turnbull considers a long-awaited reshuffle.
Robert, the minister for human services and veterans’ affairs, faces questions over a trip to Beijing in August 2014 when the then assistant defence minister took part in a ceremony marking a deal between two mining companies.
--
Minister faces questions over private Beijing visit for donor's mining deal
Read more .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/08/minister-faces-questions-over-private-beijing-visit-for-donors-mining-deal
--
The Australian company in question, Nimrod Resources, is headed by Paul Marks, who donated $340,000 .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/01/australian-political-donations-2014-15-resource-tycoons-and-unions-among-top-donors .. to the Liberal party in 2014-15.
Robert’s office has told News Corp he attended the event in a private capacity .. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/secret-china-deal-puts-federal-mp-stuart-robert-under-pressure/news-story/93814fd0d2349fc64be07565cfac7992 , but a press release issued by China Minmetals Corporation .. http://www.minmetals.com/english/News/201505/t20150528_68729.html .. said he had extended his congratulations “on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence”.
The company said the minister had presented Minmetals chairman Zhou Zhongshu “a medal bestowed to him by Australian prime minister in honor of remembrance and blessing” and also “awarded the letter of appointment” of an exploration technical committee. Robert argued the press release was inaccurate.
Labor pursued the issue in parliamentary question time on Monday, suggesting Robert’s visit might have breached ministerial standards .. https://www.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/statement_ministerial_standards.pdf .
Section 2.20 of the statement on standards says a minister “shall not act as a consultant or adviser to any company, business, or other interests, whether paid or unpaid, or provide assistance to any such body, except as may be appropriate in their official capacity as minister”.
Turnbull said: “I can confirm that I have confidence in all of my ministers, including the minister for human services.”
But the prime minister left himself room to move when the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet responded to his request for advice.
“The minister travelled to China in August 2014 while on personal leave,” Turnbull said.
“His personal leave was approved on behalf of the prime minister at the time [Tony Abbott] in accordance with the usual procedures. In relation to those media reports, I can confirm that I have asked the secretary of my department for advice in relation to the statement of ministerial standards.”
Labor tried to ask Robert directly what he had declared on his Chinese visa application form to be the purpose of the visit: official visit, tourism, non-business visit, business and trade, or work.
But the Speaker, Tony Smith, ruled the question out of order on the basis that questions about ministerial standards were a matter for the prime minister.
The leader of the house, Christopher Pyne, argued against allowing the question to Robert, saying the minister was travelling privately on a personal trip and there was no cost to the commonwealth of his travel.
The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, said Turnbull should ask Robert to explain the visa declaration and “report back at the earliest possible moment”.
Turnbull implied this would be part of the investigation. “I note the inquiry the honourable minister has made and no doubt the secretary will too,” the prime minister said.
“I deal with these matters very thoroughly and very seriously and in accordance with the code. That’s what will be done.”
Labor’s defence spokesman, Stephen Conroy, said Robert had been invited to the event because he was a minister. “Every minister knows you are not allowed to use your office for your personal benefit,” Conroy said.
“Ultimately, if all of the facts are that Stuart Robert has used his position as a minister to promote a company that has made major donations to the Liberal party .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/liberal-party , that he’s a personal investor in, then he has to go. Malcolm Turnbull should show leadership and uphold the ministerial code of conduct.”
The current statement of ministerial standards says in section 2.1: “Although their public lives encroach upon their private lives, it is critical that ministers do not use public office for private purposes.”
Robert’s office told News Corp: “Mr Robert was on leave and attended in a private capacity. Mr Robert is not responsible for what is published by private companies such as Minmetals. As part of Mr Robert’s visit, he and Chairman Zhou exchanged lapel pins.”
The treasurer, Scott Morrison, defended his friend.
“He was there at his own expense, paid his own way, he was actually on leave and he gave the bloke a pin because he was given one,” Morrison told 2GB.
“So, he took the pin off his own lapel – which was something he paid for. So, it was his own property and he gave it to him. This is a ridiculous beat-up.”
Turnbull is due to reshuffle his frontbench when the leader of the Nationals, Warren Truss, announces a decision on his political future .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/02/warren-truss-tells-nationals-he-will-reveal-plans-for-his-future-in-march . Mal Brough stood aside .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/29/mal-brough-steps-aside-as-minister-while-police-investigate-slipper-affair .. as special minister of state and Jamie Briggs resigned as the minister for cities and the built environment late last year.
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/08/malcolm-turnbull-investigation-minister-stuart-robert-china-trip
.. could Robert be three ..
UPDATE: Frontbencher Stuart Robert under pressure
Updated February 09, 2016 19:02:00
The hold of the Federal Human Services Minister Stuart Robert on his frontbench position is looking more precarious by the day. For the second day in a row, the Turnbull Government
faced sustained questions in Parliament about Mr Robert's trip to China in 2014, where he attended a signing ceremony supporting a friend who is a major Liberal Party donor.
More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-09/frontbencher-stuart-robert-under-pressure/7153768
and more Australian news updated daily here
ABC News Programs .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/transcripts/
"Kevin Andrews skips Parliament to address conservative lobby group in Washington on defence"
PM asks his department to investigate whether Robert breached ministerial standards by attending event to mark mining deal involving party donor
Stuart Robert at a signing ceremony with a mining company in China. Photograph:
China Minmetals Corporation
Daniel Hurst Political correspondent
@danielhurstbne
Monday 8 February 2016 00.56 EST
Last modified on Monday 8 February 2016 04.06 EST
Malcolm Turnbull .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/malcolm-turnbull .. has sought advice on whether the frontbencher Stuart Robert breached ministerial standards when he attended an event in China to celebrate a mining deal involving a major Liberal party donor.
The prime minister said while he had confidence in all of his ministers, he had asked his top bureaucrat to investigate the matter – a move that casts a shadow on Robert’s future as Turnbull considers a long-awaited reshuffle.
Robert, the minister for human services and veterans’ affairs, faces questions over a trip to Beijing in August 2014 when the then assistant defence minister took part in a ceremony marking a deal between two mining companies.
--
Minister faces questions over private Beijing visit for donor's mining deal
Read more .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/08/minister-faces-questions-over-private-beijing-visit-for-donors-mining-deal
--
The Australian company in question, Nimrod Resources, is headed by Paul Marks, who donated $340,000 .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/01/australian-political-donations-2014-15-resource-tycoons-and-unions-among-top-donors .. to the Liberal party in 2014-15.
Robert’s office has told News Corp he attended the event in a private capacity .. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/secret-china-deal-puts-federal-mp-stuart-robert-under-pressure/news-story/93814fd0d2349fc64be07565cfac7992 , but a press release issued by China Minmetals Corporation .. http://www.minmetals.com/english/News/201505/t20150528_68729.html .. said he had extended his congratulations “on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence”.
The company said the minister had presented Minmetals chairman Zhou Zhongshu “a medal bestowed to him by Australian prime minister in honor of remembrance and blessing” and also “awarded the letter of appointment” of an exploration technical committee. Robert argued the press release was inaccurate.
Labor pursued the issue in parliamentary question time on Monday, suggesting Robert’s visit might have breached ministerial standards .. https://www.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/statement_ministerial_standards.pdf .
Section 2.20 of the statement on standards says a minister “shall not act as a consultant or adviser to any company, business, or other interests, whether paid or unpaid, or provide assistance to any such body, except as may be appropriate in their official capacity as minister”.
Turnbull said: “I can confirm that I have confidence in all of my ministers, including the minister for human services.”
But the prime minister left himself room to move when the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet responded to his request for advice.
“The minister travelled to China in August 2014 while on personal leave,” Turnbull said.
“His personal leave was approved on behalf of the prime minister at the time [Tony Abbott] in accordance with the usual procedures. In relation to those media reports, I can confirm that I have asked the secretary of my department for advice in relation to the statement of ministerial standards.”
Labor tried to ask Robert directly what he had declared on his Chinese visa application form to be the purpose of the visit: official visit, tourism, non-business visit, business and trade, or work.
But the Speaker, Tony Smith, ruled the question out of order on the basis that questions about ministerial standards were a matter for the prime minister.
The leader of the house, Christopher Pyne, argued against allowing the question to Robert, saying the minister was travelling privately on a personal trip and there was no cost to the commonwealth of his travel.
The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, said Turnbull should ask Robert to explain the visa declaration and “report back at the earliest possible moment”.
Turnbull implied this would be part of the investigation. “I note the inquiry the honourable minister has made and no doubt the secretary will too,” the prime minister said.
“I deal with these matters very thoroughly and very seriously and in accordance with the code. That’s what will be done.”
Labor’s defence spokesman, Stephen Conroy, said Robert had been invited to the event because he was a minister. “Every minister knows you are not allowed to use your office for your personal benefit,” Conroy said.
“Ultimately, if all of the facts are that Stuart Robert has used his position as a minister to promote a company that has made major donations to the Liberal party .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/liberal-party , that he’s a personal investor in, then he has to go. Malcolm Turnbull should show leadership and uphold the ministerial code of conduct.”
The current statement of ministerial standards says in section 2.1: “Although their public lives encroach upon their private lives, it is critical that ministers do not use public office for private purposes.”
Robert’s office told News Corp: “Mr Robert was on leave and attended in a private capacity. Mr Robert is not responsible for what is published by private companies such as Minmetals. As part of Mr Robert’s visit, he and Chairman Zhou exchanged lapel pins.”
The treasurer, Scott Morrison, defended his friend.
“He was there at his own expense, paid his own way, he was actually on leave and he gave the bloke a pin because he was given one,” Morrison told 2GB.
“So, he took the pin off his own lapel – which was something he paid for. So, it was his own property and he gave it to him. This is a ridiculous beat-up.”
Turnbull is due to reshuffle his frontbench when the leader of the Nationals, Warren Truss, announces a decision on his political future .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/02/warren-truss-tells-nationals-he-will-reveal-plans-for-his-future-in-march . Mal Brough stood aside .. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/29/mal-brough-steps-aside-as-minister-while-police-investigate-slipper-affair .. as special minister of state and Jamie Briggs resigned as the minister for cities and the built environment late last year.
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/08/malcolm-turnbull-investigation-minister-stuart-robert-china-trip
.. could Robert be three ..
UPDATE: Frontbencher Stuart Robert under pressure
Updated February 09, 2016 19:02:00
The hold of the Federal Human Services Minister Stuart Robert on his frontbench position is looking more precarious by the day. For the second day in a row, the Turnbull Government
faced sustained questions in Parliament about Mr Robert's trip to China in 2014, where he attended a signing ceremony supporting a friend who is a major Liberal Party donor.
More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-09/frontbencher-stuart-robert-under-pressure/7153768
and more Australian news updated daily here
ABC News Programs .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/transcripts/
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