Federal MP, Warren Entsch, doubles down in response to conflict of interest claims related to wife’s work

New questions have emerged in relation to a Federal MP’s decision not to declare a conflict of interest in relation to his wife’s work with a business that received government funding.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has denied knowing his wife, Yolonde Entsch, had received a contract to run workshops for an organisation that received Federal government funding. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

New questions have emerged in relation to Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch’s decision not to declare a conflict of interest in relation to his wife’s work with a business that received Federal government funding.

But the Far North MP has maintained that he “was not aware” of his wife, Yolonde’s agreement to run workshops with training provider My Pathway before he announced the organisation had received $5m in government funding along with a Torres Strait land council to build seawalls in 2019.

Ms Entsch, who will contest the seat of Cairns as an LNP candidate in October’s state election, was also engaged by My Pathway to run face painting and “character building” workshops for children in the Torres Strait by My Pathway in March 2019.

But the Federal politician said there was no connection between the announcement and his wife’s work.

“To suggest the $5m that went to the land council (and My Pathway) was somehow conditional on my wife running a school holiday program is just ludicrous,” Mr Entsch said.

Member for Leichhardt attending a face painting work shop in the Torres Strait in March 2019.

The report also referenced photos of Mr Entsch with workshop participants which “appear to have contradicted” claims he was unaware of his wife’s work.

Mr Entsch said that his wife had earned the work as a private contractor with a strong reputation for running workshops in remote indigenous communities.

“My understanding was she got asked to do some work (for My Pathway) in Doomadgee some time before this and it was an outstanding success,” he said.

“They then reached out to her to run a school holiday program (in the Torres Strait) to do face painting and other workshops.

“It was purely coincidental that the week she was there was when the redevelopment of Star of the Sea (aged care facility) was being opened and I was invited to attend.

“I went and got some happy snaps with the kids doing the face painting and went back to Cairns.”

Opposition leader David Crisafulli (centre) with LNP candidates Bree James (Barron River) and Yolonde Entsch (Cairns). Picture: Facebook

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said Mr Entsch’s failure to declare conflicts of interest related to his wife showed a lack of accountability.

“Yet again Warren Entsch is embroiled in reports of a conflict-of-interest scandal,” Mr Healy said.

“Yet again the LNP MP tries to bully and bluster his way out of it.

“And he continues to blame everyone but himself. People expect their elected officials to be publicly accountable.

“And by all reports Entsch and the LNP have some serious questions here to be answered.”

Mr Entsch altered his Registry of Interests statement last Friday, deleting his wife’s role as CEO of Wheels of Wellness.

“I am not her keeper,” he said. “She’s entitled to do these things and in doing so she’s received awards for the work that she’s done.”

When contacted, Yolonde Entsch declined to comment.

Originally published as Federal MP, Warren Entsch, doubles down in response to conflict of interest claims related to wife’s work