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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/08/minister-faces-questions-over-private-beijing-visit-for-donors-mining-deal
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| Minister faces questions over private Beijing visit for donor's mining deal | Minister faces questions over private Beijing visit for donor's mining deal |
| (7 months later) | |
| A federal government minister has admitted to flying to Beijing where a friend and Liberal party donor finalised a mining deal. | A federal government minister has admitted to flying to Beijing where a friend and Liberal party donor finalised a mining deal. |
| A spokesman for Stuart Robert has told News Corp the then assistant defence minister attended in a “private capacity” a signing ceremony with Nimrod Resources’ Paul Marks and Communist party officials who run the Chinese government-owned company MinMetals. | A spokesman for Stuart Robert has told News Corp the then assistant defence minister attended in a “private capacity” a signing ceremony with Nimrod Resources’ Paul Marks and Communist party officials who run the Chinese government-owned company MinMetals. |
| Robert was on leave and paid for the trip, which came to light when MinMetals posted photos of the meeting on its website. The MinMetals release publicising the event said Robert was speaking “on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence”. | Robert was on leave and paid for the trip, which came to light when MinMetals posted photos of the meeting on its website. The MinMetals release publicising the event said Robert was speaking “on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence”. |
| Treasurer Scott Morrison said suggestions that Robert used his standing as a parliamentarian to help a friend in an inappropriate manner were “offensive, an overreach and a beat up”. | Treasurer Scott Morrison said suggestions that Robert used his standing as a parliamentarian to help a friend in an inappropriate manner were “offensive, an overreach and a beat up”. |
| Opposition leader Bill Shorten told reporters that the incident should concern the prime minister. | Opposition leader Bill Shorten told reporters that the incident should concern the prime minister. |
| “Malcolm Turnbull needs to explain what he knows and does he still have confidence in minister Roberts,” she said. “We need to get to the bottom of the matter but there is clearly more questions here than answers.” | “Malcolm Turnbull needs to explain what he knows and does he still have confidence in minister Roberts,” she said. “We need to get to the bottom of the matter but there is clearly more questions here than answers.” |
| “Every minister knows you are not allowed to use your office for your personal benefit,” shadow defence minister Stephen Conroy said. | “Every minister knows you are not allowed to use your office for your personal benefit,” shadow defence minister Stephen Conroy said. |
| Conroy wants a video recording of the event to be released so that Parliament can decide whether Robert was in breach of ministerial conduct. | Conroy wants a video recording of the event to be released so that Parliament can decide whether Robert was in breach of ministerial conduct. |
| “It’s an appalling lack of judgement fuelled by donations to the Liberal party and his own personal interest. He has shares in this company. He wasn’t invited as an average shareholder. | “It’s an appalling lack of judgement fuelled by donations to the Liberal party and his own personal interest. He has shares in this company. He wasn’t invited as an average shareholder. |
| He was invited because he was a minister in the government of Australia,” Conroy said. | He was invited because he was a minister in the government of Australia,” Conroy said. |
| “He implies he is speaking on behalf of the Australian government in endorsing this project. We need the full transcript; we need the video of the event to be able to make a full judgement.” | “He implies he is speaking on behalf of the Australian government in endorsing this project. We need the full transcript; we need the video of the event to be able to make a full judgement.” |
| The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, said she understood Robert’s visit was made in a private capacity. “And of course, that’s perfectly acceptable,” she told the Seven Network on Monday. “I don’t know how you can make a secret visit to China anyway. | The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, said she understood Robert’s visit was made in a private capacity. “And of course, that’s perfectly acceptable,” she told the Seven Network on Monday. “I don’t know how you can make a secret visit to China anyway. |
| “China knows a great deal of what is going on when it comes to its borders.” | “China knows a great deal of what is going on when it comes to its borders.” |
| Bishop said questions over ministerial conduct where a matter for the prime minister, but noted that “visits with Communist party officials are commonplace in China”. | Bishop said questions over ministerial conduct where a matter for the prime minister, but noted that “visits with Communist party officials are commonplace in China”. |
| Liberal senator Simon Birmingham noted the trip occurred quite some time ago. | Liberal senator Simon Birmingham noted the trip occurred quite some time ago. |
| “I’m sure Mr Robert will have something to say in terms of making sure that it is clearly understood that it was a private capacity and the way in which that occurred,” he told Sky News. | “I’m sure Mr Robert will have something to say in terms of making sure that it is clearly understood that it was a private capacity and the way in which that occurred,” he told Sky News. |