Fadden MP Stuart Robert moves to the backbench following China trip scandal forces resignation
FALLEN Minister Stuart Robert could come under pressure to vacate his blue ribbon seat of Fadden this year’s federal election after he resigned from cabinet.
Gold Coast
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FALLEN Minister Stuart Robert could come under pressure to vacate his blue ribbon seat of Fadden at this year’s federal election after he resigned from Cabinet.
The senior Gold Coast MP, who is widely liked and respected by colleagues, fell on his sword yesterday following an investigation by the Department of Prime Minister in Cabinet into a scandal involving a private trip to China.
During the 2014 to China’s capital Beijing he attended a signing ceremony in a “private capacity” between the government-controlled company Minmetals and Australian company, Nimrod Resources.
The Australian company was represented by Paul Marks, a major Liberal Party donor and “close personal friend” of Mr Robert.
It also was revealed that he had organised a dinner in his Parliament House office with Tony Abbott and a Chinese business mogul at the request of Mr Marks.
Mr Robert, who has been in parliament since 2007, yesterday declined to comment.
According to a statement by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, department secretary Dr Martin Parkinson “concluded that Mr Robert had acted inconsistently with the Statement of Ministerial Standards, although he accepts that Mr Robert may not have intended to do so”.
During the investigation, Mr Robert advised Dr Parkinson he held shares in Metallum Holdings Pty Ltd, a company in which Mr Marks was also a shareholder, which had been allocated to his trustee some time before the visit to Beijing.
Mr Turnbull said Mr Robert further advised Dr Parkinson he believed Metallum Holdings Pty Ltd had an interest in Nimrod Resources.
“He also notes that Mr Robert appears not to have received any financial benefit and that the conduct in question did not directly relate to Mr Robert’s ministerial duties,” the statement said.
Mr Turnbull yesterday thanked Mr Robert for his service.
“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.
“As a result, Mr Robert has asked me not to consider him in the pending reshuffle of the ministry.
“I thank him for his service as a minister and for his candid co-operation with Dr Parkinson in his inquiry.”
Mr Robert will go to the backbench following the reshuffle, expected to be announced tomorrow.
Senior LNP sources say he will now face questions from his party branch when preselection opens later this year.
“The shame is that the Gold Coast had finally reached a point where we had three significant positions and that has now been diminished as an unfortunate consequence of this,” the source said.
“He may come under some pressure during preselection but Stuart will fight because he places so much value in what he does.”
Mr Robert’s departure from Cabinet, as well as the losses of former deputy prime minister Warren Truss and outgoing trade minister Andrew Robb could, however, have benefits for fellow Gold Coast MPs Steven Ciobo and Karen Andrews.
Mr Ciobo, the long-time Member for Moncrieff, is understood to be in line for elevation to the Cabinet and has been touted as Mr Robb’s successor in the high-profile trade portfolio.
He has served as Minister for International Development and the Pacific since the September 2015 leadership spill that installed Mr Turnbull.
He has the backing of locals, including LNP member and senior Gold Coast councillor, Cameron Caldwell.
Cr Caldwell praised Mr Ciobo’s performance and said he should be recognised by party elders.
“Steve has performed over many years representing the Gold Coast and this warrants a promotion,” he said.
“It is important to ensure the Gold Coast region continues to be represented strongly in the federal parliament.”
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