Minister Stuart Robert’s trip to China in 2014 has raised some key questions for the government

TONY Abbott knows a thing or two about being the cause of a political crisis. And he’s offered some words of support to a colleague under fire.

Tony Abbott’s insight: ‘It’s a real bummer’

ANALYSIS

TONY Abbott no doubt believes he was being a well of consolation when he encountered troubled Human Services Minister Stuart Robert in Parliament House.

“Stewie,” he hailed the glum passing minister, “tough couple of days”.

Mr Robert mumbled a reply which was largely lost in the noise of corridor traffic.

“Real bummer,” Mr Abbott added as the two Liberals continued on their separate paths yesterday.

It has indeed been a real bummer if not a total downer for Mr Robert.

He is being asked to explain why in August, 2014, he appeared to use his then job as an assistant Defence Minister to embellish a business deal in China for a close mate, co-investor and Liberal donor.

The issues this old travel story has raised are significant.

Allegations of misuse of office

It should be remembered that in an unrelated, 2009 case Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon resigned as defence minister after it was revealed his brother had used his offices for business discussions with department officials;

Questions over taxpayer funding of trips

Mr Robert paid for the ticket to Beijing but the public paid for the flight to Sydney to catch the Chinese connection, and most of his return fare because of official business in Singapore;

The toughness of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Labor is expected to argue this is a test case for Mr Turnbull’s leadership, with the suggestion, of course, he has already failed.

The 2014 jaunt by Mr Robert was approved as a private trip by the office of then Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but it is Mr Turnbull who has to sort out the mess.

Job ID PD434093. Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott with the Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert, during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra. Pic by Gary Ramage

Mr Turnbull has asked the head of his department to investigate and government MPs are hoping this happens quickly.

Mr Robert’s tough couple of days, during which he has declined to elaborate on the trip, have included further details indicating he was more than a mere tourist, that he played a role in Beijing well beyond that of private spectator.

He engaged Chinese officials and met a Chinese minister in activities well removed from the usual local leisure circuit.

It could be Mr Robert, who is confident he has done nothing inappropriate, was simply and innocently snared by the Chinese enthusiasm for ceremony and official endorsement.

He might not have been able to resist being swept into the occasion of a business deal.

He couldn’t snub a minister without causing offence.

Which does not say much for his judgment and personal authority.

Ministers are expected to ignore temptations whether they are at home

or in Tiananmen Square.

It is not certain Mr Robert was fortified by Tony Abbott’s words in the corridor, but he would be aware his Beijing bummer isn’t over yet.