Labor-dominated committee urges NACC to investigate Stuart Robert’s links to lobbying firm

It is the first time a parliamentary committee has referred an incident to the NACC, also recommending a probe on people fleeing the country to avoid inquiries.

Former Coalition minister Stuart Robert has been referred to the NACC. Picture: AAP

Former Queensland MP Stuart Robert has been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission over his links to consulting firm Synergy 360 by a parliamentary committee that has also recommended the Speaker of the House approve legal advice to investigate situations where people flee overseas to avoid appearing in front of parliamentary inquiries.

It is the first time a parliamentary committee has referred an incident to the NACC, which has so far received more than 660 referrals of potential corruption since being set up on July 1.

Joint public accounts and audit committee chair Julian Hill tabled an interim report on Wednesday morning, which he said included “concerning evidence” about financial impropriety, improper relationships and undisclosed conflicts of interest with parties receiving contracts from the commonwealth.

Mr Robert – the former employment and government services minister – quit parliament in May amid allegations he had used his position as a minister to assist lobbying firm Synergy 360 secure meetings with government figures and land lucrative contracts.

The public accounts and audit committee in June alleged Synergy 360 proposed a structure that would see Mr Roberts benefit financially from contracts awarded to the lobbying firm, which Mr Roberts denied.

In investigating Mr Roberts’ ties to Synergy 360, the committee called on numerous witnesses including businessman John Margerison, who did not appear for questioning because he had moved overseas and “severed all ties” with Australia.

Mr Hill told parliament that on top of the NACC investigating if Mr Robert had engaged in corrupt conduct, the commonwealth needed to seek legal advice into such situations where people fled overseas in order to not appear in front of parliamentary committees.

“The committee recommends that the Speaker approve the commissioning of legal advice which can guide this and future committees when necessary, including but not limited to situations in which a person claims to be resident overseas,” he said.

Mr Hill said the decision to refer the matter to the NACC was “not taken lightly”.

“In these circumstances, however, there appears no other appropriate course of action,” he said.

“The report recommends that the NACC examine all of the evidence gathered by the JCPAA to date to inform its decision whether to a fuller investigation of the matter is warranted to establish the substance of these claims.”

While not submitting a dissenting report, Coalition members of the committee said in additional comments said they were concerned by the use of the NACC for political purposes by Labor MPs.

“As a matter of principle, Coalition committee members support the referral to the National Anti-Corruption Commission of any serious allegations of corruption that are drawn to the committee’s attention. However, it is not the role of the committee to request that the NACC conduct an investigation into any matter,” the additional comments read.

“It is disconcerting that the Labor members of this committee have chosen to release this interim report and request the NACC undertake an investigation based on unsubstantiated allegations. This departure from established committee precedent, especially in a matter with political overtones, raises serious concerns.”

Mr Hill denied the Labor-dominated committee had acted inappropriately.

“Some have sought to conflate the committee’s proper acquittal of its responsibilities with politics, however accusations of partisanship are unfair and unfounded. Throughout this inquiry, the committee has sought procedural advice on sometimes complex questions and has sought to always act in the public interest,” he said.