Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley under pump as career all but flatlines

SUSSAN Ley could lose her position unless she proves she had ministerial business on the Gold Coast when she purchased an ocean-view apartment, cabinet ministers believe.

CABINET ministers believe Sussan Ley could lose her position unless she proves she had ministerial business on the Gold Coast when she purchased an ocean-view apartment.

Pressure is mounting on the federal Health Minister after the Herald Sun revealed she bought a $795,000 property during a taxpayer-funded trip with her partner to Main Beach in 2015.

Government documents show the couple travelled to the Gold Coast for the night after Ms Ley made a health announcement at Brisbane’s Wesley Hospital, billing taxpayers for a chauffer-driven car and accommodation.

MP BUYS FLAT ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED TRIP

The Main Beach tower block where federal Health Minister Sussan Ley purchased an apartment.

Ms Ley said the property purchase was “was not planned nor anticipated” and she travelled to the Gold Coast to meet with “local health stakeholders”.

On Friday, Labor called on Ms Ley to release her diary and reveal which stakeholders she met with and whether a government car was used to facilitate the purchase.

The full cost of the couple’s business trip was $3125 — paid for by taxpayers — which included return flights and $360 for a nightly travel allowance.

She also claimed an extra $10-a-day travel allowance for her partner. Cabinet colleagues on Friday were publicly supporting Ms Ley.

Pressure is mounting on federal Health Minister Sussan Ley. Picture: Wesley Monts

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce backed her claim she travelled to Main Beach for ministerial business.

“If they made a purchase, even though I admit it is a substantial purchase, that’s not the reason she went to the Gold Coast. She went to the Gold Coast for work,” he told the ABC.

But privately, some colleagues said she could be in “strife” if she fails to prove she had ministerial business.

“You’ve got to have a proper reason to be there and prove it,” one minister on Friday told the Herald Sun. Another Cabinet colleague said it was “very unusual” for a minister to conduct “a private meeting on the Gold Coast” that she wanted to keep secret.

The Herald Sun can also reveal Ms Ley spent five nights on the Gold Coast costing taxpayers $1800 in the month before the purchase.

Labor’s health spokeswoman, Catherine King, demanded Ms Ley resign if she could not explain the reason she billed taxpayers for the Gold Coast leg of the trip.

Ms Ley’s office did not respond to questions on Friday.

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Originally published as Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley under pump as career all but flatlines