Stuart Robert resigns from Turnbull ministry over China trip mining deal controversy
Stuart Robert has resigned as Minister for Human Services and Veterans Affairs following an internal review into his conduct found he breached ministerial standards during a trip to China.
He has asked not to be considered for a position in a ministerial reshuffle.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed Mr Robert has asked not to be considered for a ministry during an upcoming reshuffle after the investigation by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinen Secretary Martin Parkinson.
Labor has been calling for Mr Robert to be dumped after over his “private” trip to China in August 2014.
Mr Robert was accused of 'using his office' to help a friend with a business deal during the private visit to Beijing, leading Mr Turnbull to launch an investigation into the growing controversy earlier this week.
"Mr Robert advised Dr 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 a statement.
"In the course of assisting the investigation, Mr Roberts 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.
"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."
Mr Robert appeared at a signing ceremony for a mining deal between Australian company Nimrod Resources and a Chinese business and he also met Chinese Government officials during the visit.
Yesterday it was reported that Mr Robert had refused to confirm whether or not he took his Defence Department-issued phone with him on a private trip to China.
Mr Robert was asked during question time on Thursday whether he used a government-issued laptop, portable electronic device or mobile phone on the August 2014 trip when he helped a friend and Liberal Party donor sign a mining deal.
But the former assistant defence minister refused to confirm whether he took the phone, or other devices, which would be in breach of defence security protocols.
News break – February 12
