Liberal donor denies link to Sussan Ley Gold Coast unit sale

A LIBERAL Party donor who sold his luxury apartment to suspended minister Sussan Ley was given a grant for his daycare business when she was childcare minister.

Colleagues believe Sussan Ley will not be in Cabinet when parliament returns next month. Picture: Evan Morgan

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SUSPENDED minister Sussan Ley is unlikely to return to the frontbench, as the fallout from her taxpayer-funded househunting trips to the Gold Coast triggers action on federal MPs’ entitlements.

Colleagues believe Ms Ley, who has been stood down pending the outcome of two inquiries into her taxpayer-funded travel, will not be in Cabinet when parliament returns next month.

This is despite her insistence “no rules were broken” when she billed taxpayers for trips to inspect a Gold Coast property and to attend New Year’s Eve celebrations.

SUSSAN LEY: FREE TICKETS ‘PART OF THE JOB’

Colleagues believe Sussan Ley will not be in Cabinet when parliament returns next month. Picture: Evan Morgan

It can now be revealed the Liberal Party donor who sold his luxury apartment to Ms Ley, at a loss, was given a $109,977 grant for his daycare business when she was childcare minister.

Education Department contract documents reveal Children First Learning Centres, owned by vendor Martin Corkery, received the government grant for three daycare centres in November 2014, when Ms Ley was Assistant Education Minister.

Six months later, she bought his luxury De Ville apartment “on a whim’’ during a taxpayer-funded trip.

BRONWYN BISHOP DEFENDS SUSSAN LEY OVER TRAVEL

But Mr Corkery said he never discussed his apartment with Ms Ley and she had not even seen it until the May, 2015 auction.

The recent furore has forced the government to act on 36 reforms to MPs’ travel entitlements which were recommended 10 months ago, following former speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s notorious helicopter trip from Melbourne to Geelong.

So far, only three recommendations have been implemented.

By July, federal MPs will be banned from using helicopters for short trips, could be forced to share a shuttle bus around Canberra instead of using chauffeur-driven cars and eligibility for interstate family reunion travel will be tightened.

Sussan Ley is unlikely to return to the frontbench. Picture: Justin Sanson

JULIE BISHOP’S $2716 EXPENSE TO ATTEND POLO

Acting Special Minister of State Kelly O’Dwyer said on Tuesday the “parliamentary expense system needs to change” and all recommendations would be implemented in the first half of the year.

“A clear definition of what official business is obviously at the centre of the changes,” Ms O’Dwyer said.

She would not be drawn on whether Ms Ley, should resign or be sacked, saying: “There is an independent investigation ... it’s not appropriate for me to speculate.”

Crossbench senators said the proposed changes were “weak” and will push for stricter rules when parliament returns on February 7.

The Greens have renewed calls for a federal anti-corruption commission.

— with Rebecca Cavanagh

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