Ley standing aside pending investigation into travel claims
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley will stand aside pending an investigation into numerous travel claims made to the Gold Coast over the past two years, the prime minister's office confirmed.
"Today I have asked the Secretary of my Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet for advice in relation to the Statement of Ministerial Standards relating to travel claims made by the Minister for Health, Aged Care and Sport, the Hon Sussan Ley MP," said a statement from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull released Monday.
"Australians expect the Government to deal with these serious matters very thoroughly and in accordance with the Statement of Ministerial Standards.
"I expect the highest standards from my Ministers in all aspects of their conduct, and especially the expenditure of public money," the statement said.
Senator Arthur Sinodinos will act as Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Minister for Sport.
More questions have been raised about the Health Minister Sussan Ley's taxpayer-funded trips to the Gold Coast. Source: AAP
Ms Ley reportedly claimed travel costs to the Gold Coast for New Year's Eve celebrations two years in a row.
Those journeys were among 27 taxpayer-funded flights to and from the Gold Coast over the past two years, with a total of 37 nights billed to the public over the same period, Fairfax[ reports.
Last week it was revealed Ms Ley bought a $795,000 apartment on the Gold Coast on "impulse" while travelling with her husband at the taxpayers' expense.
Ms Ley told reporters on Monday she travelled to the Gold Coast for New Year's celebrations at the request of a prominent Queensland businesswoman.
In 2013, she claimed flights and taxis to attend a business lunch and the following year, attended the businesswoman's annual New Year's Eve event, she said.
Ms Ley insists she did not claim accommodation in either year.
Ms Ley insisted she visited the Gold Coast the day she bought her apartment to have ongoing conversations with a patient.
She decided it would be cheaper to stay at the Gold Coast that night since she needed to be in Canberra the following day.
Her husband had accompanied her on the trip amd drew her attention to an auction for the apartment.
"My decision late Friday to attend this auction was made after I had planned to travel to the Gold Coast from Brisbane," she said.
On Sunday she apologised and vowed to pay back expenses for a 2015 trip to the Queensland.
She admitted it was an "error of judgment" and did not meet the high standards set by the prime minister.
She has asked he Department of Finance to review all of her ministerial travel to the Gold Coast.
Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King earlier called on Ms Ley to publicly explain her New Year's Eve jaunts.
The Opposition says Ms Ley's behaviour warrants a resignation rom the ministry. Source: AAP
"It would seem unusual to have official business on New Year's Eve," she told ABC Radio on Monday.
"Frankly, I don't think she has got any choice but to resign.
"If she's not willing to resign I don't think Malcolm Turnbull has any choice but to step her down from the frontbench.
"Either his ministerial standards are there to be enforced or they're not worth the paper they're written on."
Cabinet minister Simon Birmingham said extensive travel was part of Ms Ley's responsibilities and does not think she has breached the ministerial code of conduct.
"I don't believe that is the case," he told ABC Radio.
"I think we are expected to be held to a high standard and accountability and transparency, and in this regard Sussan thinks it's appropriate to make some repayments and I appreciate and understand why."
