Inquiry move puts heat on Pyne job
Moves are afoot to set up a probe into the former Liberal MP’s post-ministerial employment.
Former Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne could be called back to parliament to explain his decision to take up a job as a defence industry consultant with Ernst & Young, amid moves to set up a Senate inquiry into his post-ministerial employment.
Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick will move this week to establish the probe in a push that appears likely to achieve majority support with the backing of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.
Senator Patrick said yesterday the former defence and defence industry minister’s decision to take a job with EY “just doesn’t pass the pub test”, and would be the subject of a proposed inquiry into the compliance of former frontbenchers with the ministerial code.
However, Mr Pyne was yesterday adamant that he would not breach the code, which prevents former ministers from lobbying government on matters they had ministerial responsibility for, or using information they had access to as minister.
“The providing of occasional high-level strategic advice does not require lobbying, advocating or undertaking any activity back into government, nor providing or using any information a former minister may have learnt as a minister that is not generally available to the public,” he said in a statement.
Mr Pyne said he and any employer he worked for would put in place “rigorous processes and procedures” to ensure he did not breach the ministerial code.
“Of course, I have 26 years of experience of the parliament and politics, experience in the health, ageing, education, industry, innovation and science portfolios, and as leader of the house, that gives me knowledge of government and politics and how it works that is valuable in the post-political world. Having that knowledge does not breach the code.”
Senator Patrick later tweeted: “This looks like a nice start to your Senate inquiry submission which will, no doubt, compliment (sic) your committee appearance.”
Centre Alliance would almost certainly gain the backing of Labor and the Greens to establish the inquiry, leaving it needing just two more crossbench votes.
A spokesman for Senator Hanson said the One Nation leader, who controls two Senate votes, would look favourably at the proposal. He said Senator Hanson believed the public was sick of former ministers making money from their insider knowledge.
The motion to set up the inquiry could also win support from returning senator Jacqui Lambie, and potentially from crossbencher Cory Bernardi, who is a longtime factional enemy of Mr Pyne.
Neither Senator-elect Lambie nor Senator Bernardi returned The Australian’s calls yesterday.
Senator Patrick said the proposed inquiry, by the Senate’s finance and public references committee, would help to focus Scott Morrison’s mind on the need to ensure integrity in government.
“The Prime Minister must be fully engaged with this issue and he must ensure that former ministers fully comply with the undertakings they gave when holding ministerial office. The highest standards of integrity must be upheld and seen to be upheld by ministers and former ministers.”
Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham said it was a matter for Mr Pyne and EY.