Gold Coast-based federal MP Stuart Robert defends China trip: I acted appropriately

GOLD Coast-based federal Minister Stuart Robert has defended his controversial trip to China as it comes under investigation by senior bureaucrats.

GOLD Coast-based federal minister Stuart Robert has defended his controversial trip to China as it comes under investigation by senior bureaucrats.

The Fadden MP and Minister for Human Services is under fire from the Opposition after it was yesterday revealed he had travelled to China’s capital Beijing in a “private capacity” and attended a signing ceremony between the government-controlled company Minmentals and Australian company, Nimrod Resources.

Fadden MP Stuart Robert in question time yesterday at Parliament House.

The Australian company was represented by Paul Marks, a major Liberal Party donor and “close personal friend” of Mr Robert, who has represented his northern Gold Coast seat since 2007.

As Mr Robert yesterday stood firm and defended his role in the trip, it was revealed he had accepted two designer watches from a Chinese firm but said he later returned them.

The timepieces, thought to be Cartier watches similar to one worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, are worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Mr Robert accepted the watches while in Opposition, but returned them a few months later, after the Coalition was elected.

Mr Robert’s office confirmed he was given two watches by the Liguancheng Group.

“Advice was sought from the Clerk as to the entitlement to keep the watches,’’ a spokesman said yesterday.

“Even though the Clerk advised the watches could be kept, Mr Robert returned the watches.’’

Mr Robert is understood to have initially thought the watches were fake. When it was then discovered they were genuine, they were returned.

Li Ruipeng, a director of Liguancheng Group, visited the Gold Coast in May 2013.

Mr Robert did not answer questions on what brand of watch he received or their value.

It is unclear, if he thought they were fake, why he declared them. Gifts from an official government source worth less than $750, or from a private person worth less than $300, do not have to be declared.

Last night Mr Robert said he had asked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to refer the trip to China to the Secretary of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for investigation.

“I contend I have acted appropriately,” he said.

The Chinese ceremony occurred in August 2014 when Mr Robert was serving as Assistant Defence Minister in the Abbott Government.

The Opposition put the issue under the microscope during Question Time as parliament sat yesterday.

Labor said Mr Robert’s role in the trip, which he previously said was paid for privately, was a breach of ministerial conduct.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull defended Mr Robert during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, Feb. 08, 2016. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday backed his close ally.

“I can confirm that I have confidence in all of my ministers, including the Minister for Human Services,” he said.

“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.”

Mr Robert supported Mr Turnbull during last year’s leadership spill which removed Tony Abbott as Liberal leader and was a key player in securing the Prime Minister’s support for funding the Gold Coast light rail’s second stage.