Scott Morrison in the firing line for missing Parliament while overseas

Former PM Scott Morrison has skipped the entire first sitting week of Parliament to attend an international summit - but the event doesn’t start until Thursday night.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison won’t be in Canberra today when Parliament resumes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tracey Nearmy

Scott Morrison has skipped the entire first sitting week of Parliament to attend an international summit that doesn’t begin until Thursday night.

The former prime minister is now under pressure to reveal if he is being paid to attend the event, which is also spruiking speeches by UK prime minister David Cameron, former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, and Ukraine’s former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

On Monday, Mr Morrison said was “unable to attend the first three sitting days of the new parliament this week” but failed to mention the conference doesn’t start until Thursday while Parliament is sitting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr Morrison is travelling in Japan with his wife, Jenny Morrison and posted to Facebook today that he had visited Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to pass on his sympathies over the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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Scott Morrison has skipped the entire first week of Parliament to attend a summit that doesn’t begin until Thursday night. He is pictured in Japan with wife Jenny, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and wife Yuko

Labor frontbencher Tony Burke has raised questions over Scott Morrison’s jetsetting overseas travel, warning if he’s getting paid for side hustles while skipping Parliament, he needs to declare it.

The former Prime Minister raised fresh questions over his political future after revealing he would be a no show when Parliament resumed today.

he revealed he would be a no show when Parliament resumes today.

Instead, he will be travelling to Japan to mingle with former Prime Ministers on the international conference circuit, where he’s expected to secure a lucrative speakers fee.

He will also continue to be paid his $211,250 a year salary as a backbencher despite failing to turn up to work in Canberra while he travels overseas.

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaking to the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul. Picture: Supplied

Scott Morrison and Mahathir bin Mohamad at the Asian leaders summit in Seoul. Picture: Supplied

Manager of Government business Tony Burke said Mr Morrison would need to declare any free flights, accommodation or speakers fees to Parliament.

But he also raised questions over whether it was appropriate to get paid for speakers gigs if he wasn’t turning up to his day job.

“Sometimes people have deeply personal reasons that they can’t come because of sickness or a loved one,’’ Mr Burke said.

“And those quiet conversations happened with the whip, between the whips, and so there are occasions where it’s appropriate and that that happens.

“If someone’s being paid to do another job, then I’m not sure how they get away with the taxpayers paying them to do this one.”

Tony Burke has questioned Mr Morrison’s overseas travels. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Morrison has just returned from another trip overseas where he spoke at an “Asian leadership conference”.

That trip also almost certainly involved free flight, accommodation and most likely a speakers fee.

News.com.au has contacted Mr Morrison’s office for clarification.

A spokesman for Mr Morrison told news.com.au that he would declare any income in the normal way.

“Mr Morrison will be complying with the disclosure requirements for Members of the Australian Parliament as and when they are required to be made,’’ a spokeswoman said.

Mr Morrison has 28 days after he returns to Parliament to declare any free flights and income.

However, it’s not clear those requirements demand that the former Prime Minister reveal exactly how much he is being paid or if he simply has to state he has been paid a “speakers fee”, flights and accommodation.

Scott Morrison and Mike Pence at the Asian leaders summit in Seoul. Picture: Supplied

Mr Morrison stressed he accepted the invitation before the parliamentary schedule was released.

“Prior to the new Government advising the sitting schedule for the remainder of 2022, I had already accepted an invitation to join other former Prime Ministers from Canada, the UK and New Zealand to address an international event to be held in Tokyo this week,’’ he said.

“As a consequence I will be unable to attend the first three sitting days of the new Parliament this week.

“While in Tokyo, in addition to making an address on the role of the Quad in promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific, I will be holding a series of meetings with Japanese political and business leaders and will have the opportunity to join other former leaders to express my condolences for the passing of Prime Minister Abe following his assassination.

“I will return to Australia to be present in the Parliament on August 1, 2022.”