Stuart Robert to leave ministry over China trip

The Human Service Minister breached ministerial standards on a trip to Beijing in 2014, a report has found.

Stuart Robert has lost his position as Minister for Human Services and Veterans Affairs.

Stuart Robert will lose his ministry after an arms-length investigation by Malcolm Turnbull’s department exposed a previously undisclosed stake in Nimrod Resources, the company he helped promote on a controversial trip to China.

The Prime Minister, in a statement issued this afternoon, revealed Mr Robert held shares in Metallum Holdings, a company with an interest in Nimrod, but initially did not disclose this to Mr Turnbull’s officials.

“Mr Robert advised (the secretary of my department) Dr (Martin) Parkinson that at the time he travelled to Beijing in August 2014 he did not believe that he had any interest in or connection to Mr Paul Marks’ company, Nimrod Resources,” Mr Turnbull said in the statement.

“In the course of assisting the investigation, Mr Robert advised Dr Parkinson that on checking his records he had become aware that shares in Metallum Holdings Pty Ltd, a company in which Mr Marks was also a shareholder, had been allocated to his trustee some time before the visit to Beijing.

“He told Dr Parkinson that this had been done without his knowledge. He further advised Dr Parkinson that he believed Metallum Holdings Pty Ltd had an interest in Nimrod Resources.

“Mr Robert recognised that this connection would create the impression that at the time he went to Beijing he had something personally to gain from the Nimrod Resources project.

“As a result, Mr Robert has asked me not to consider him in the pending reshuffle of the ministry. I thank him for his service as a minister and for his candid co-operation with Dr Parkinson in his inquiry.

“Dr Parkinson concluded that Mr Robert had acted inconsistently with the Statement of Ministerial Standards, although he accepts that Mr Robert may not have intended to do so.

“He also notes that Mr Robert appears not to have received any financial benefit and that the conduct in question did not directly relate to Mr Robert’s Ministerial duties.”

The Australian understands that Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who earlier in the week said the trip appeared to be “acceptable”, was persuaded by Dr Parkinson’s findings that Mr Robert’s position was untenable.

The findings were conveyed to Mr Robert, who has since written to Mr Turnbull asking to be excluded from the forthcoming reshuffle.

Mr Robert’s office has declined to comment.

The move to force Mr Robert’s resignation comes after mounting pressure on the Human Services and Veterans’ Affairs Minister for the trip which he claimed was made in a private capacity.

Mr Robert had denied breaching the ministerial code of conduct, arguing he was on leave and attended the meeting with Chinese officials in a “private” capacity, despite him meeting with the Chinese vice-minister for resources during the trip.

Bill Shorten said he was “amazed” that Mr Turnbull did not act sooner.

“I didn’t think that Liberal ministers needed it explained to them that their job is to work for the people of Australia, not to squire rich fat cat Liberal donors around the capitals of the world,” the Opposition Leader said.

Mr Shorten proposed introducing “real time” disclosure of all political donations above $1000.

This morning, new Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said he had not seen any evidence of wrongdoing by Mr Robert.

“What is it that he has done wrong? What is his crime? Can someone please tell me what the crime is here?” he said.

Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen accused Mr Turnbull of “sneakily” waiting until after parliament adjourned last night before moving against Mr Robert.

“There has rarely been a clearer case of a breach of ministerial standards than Stuart Robert’s trip to China on behalf of a major Liberal Party donor, in clear breach of the standards,” the opposition treasury spokesman said.

“Malcolm Turnbull should have acted immediately. He dithered all week. Malcolm Turnbull is the prime ditherer.”

Mr Bowen said disagreements within the Coalition about the scale of the offence demonstrate the “heart of the dysfunction” within the government.