Nationals leader Michael McCormack forced to jettison junket claims
Deputy PM admits a first-term Nats MP who backed him in the spill was sent on a Swedish junket on a false premise.
Michael McCormack has admitted a first-term Nationals MP who backed him in the leadership spill was sent on a Swedish junket on a false premise and contradicted his claim the backbencher was the “incoming” chair of the parliamentary road safety committee.
The Deputy Prime Minister on Monday backtracked from an earlier assertion that Cowper MP Pat Conaghan had travelled to Stockholm for the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety to represent the parliament.
In response to questions about Mr Conaghan’s travel to the UN-linked road safety summit on Friday, Mr McCormack’s spokeswoman said the NSW mid-north coast MP had “represented the Australian parliament, not the Australian government”.
“Mr Conaghan attended as the incoming chairman of the joint select committee on road safety and his travel to Sweden was approved by the Prime Minister per the normal processes for such matters,” Mr McCormack’s spokesman said.
By Monday, following additional questions from The Australian, Mr McCormack was forced to correct his justification for Mr Conaghan’s taxpayer funded trip to Sweden.
“Mr Conaghan travelled to Sweden as a representative of the Australian government,” the spokeswoman said.
“The position of chair will be considered at the next meeting of the joint select committee which is currently scheduled for this week.” The Australian understands Mr Conaghan’s unofficial promotion as road safety committee chair, which has not been endorsed by the parliament, had surprised Coalition MPs who believed the position, vacated by former Nationals MP Llew O’Brien, had not been filled.
Mr Conaghan, in line for a pay rise if elected as committee chair, had been considered a supporter of Barnaby Joyce in the lead-up to the Nationals leadership spill but was understood to have switched support to Mr McCormack on the eve of the partyroom vote.
After Mr McCormack confirmed he had cancelled his trip to Sweden on February 11, citing the bushfire recovery, the Nationals leader claimed senior bureaucrats would represent the government.
The Australian understands Mr Conaghan’s attendance was confirmed in the wake of the failed leadership spill and Mr O’Brien’s resignation from the Nationals.
The government, represented by Transport and Infrastructure Department deputy secretary Pip Spence and Mr Conaghan, did not sign the Stockholm treaty, which included support for 30km/h speed limits in urban areas.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Catherine King said if the Morrison government had taken “road safety seriously”, Mr McCormack would have attended the Stockholm conference.
On Saturday, Ms King wrote to Speaker Tony Smith questioning whether Mr Conaghan had travelled to Sweden on behalf of the parliament.
“It’s up to the Deputy Prime Minister to justify his actions,” Ms King told The Australian.
PM plays down rush to election as Palmer goes MAGA
Anthony Albanese has fended off suggestions he would be rushing to Government House this weekend to call a snap poll while the Treasurer says he's focused on the March budget. Clive Palmer, meanwhile, will chair the new Trumpet of Patriots party, offering voters Trump-like policies.
End the corporate rent-seeking? Let’s get back to first principles
The ASX Corporate Governance Council has dealt itself out of the governance debate. Controlled by pseudo-culture warriors, rent-seekers and activists, it’s become a de facto legislator and regulator.