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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bruce Billson cleared of breaching standards over lobbying salary | Bruce Billson cleared of breaching standards over lobbying salary |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Former minister investigated following undeclared payments by Franchise Council of Australia before he left parliament | |
| Gareth Hutchens | |
| Mon 16 Oct 2017 08.18 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 16 Oct 2017 08.19 BST | |
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| The former small business minister Bruce Billson has been cleared of breaching ministerial guidelines despite receiving undeclared payments from a business lobby group while still in parliament last year. | The former small business minister Bruce Billson has been cleared of breaching ministerial guidelines despite receiving undeclared payments from a business lobby group while still in parliament last year. |
| A separate inquiry is still considering if Billson will be found in contempt of parliament. | A separate inquiry is still considering if Billson will be found in contempt of parliament. |
| Malcolm Turnbull asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to investigate Billson in August this year after it was revealed the former Liberal MP had begun drawing a $75,000 a year salary from the Franchise Council of Australia before he left parliament in 2016. | Malcolm Turnbull asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to investigate Billson in August this year after it was revealed the former Liberal MP had begun drawing a $75,000 a year salary from the Franchise Council of Australia before he left parliament in 2016. |
| Billson had been dumped from cabinet in September 2015, after Turnbull took the Liberal party leadership from Tony Abbott, and six months later – in March 2016 – he announced that he had taken a job at the FCA. | Billson had been dumped from cabinet in September 2015, after Turnbull took the Liberal party leadership from Tony Abbott, and six months later – in March 2016 – he announced that he had taken a job at the FCA. |
| But he failed to disclose to the parliament’s register of interest that he had started drawing a salary from the lobby group. He also failed to disclose that he had been appointed a director of the council. | But he failed to disclose to the parliament’s register of interest that he had started drawing a salary from the lobby group. He also failed to disclose that he had been appointed a director of the council. |
| He didn’t leave parliament until 9 May 2016, when both houses were dissolved for the 2016 federal election. It is a rule of parliament that MPs must declare all sources of income and directorships to the register of interests. | He didn’t leave parliament until 9 May 2016, when both houses were dissolved for the 2016 federal election. It is a rule of parliament that MPs must declare all sources of income and directorships to the register of interests. |
| On Monday Turnbull revealed that PM&C had cleared Billson of breaching ministerial standards and the lobbying code of conduct. | On Monday Turnbull revealed that PM&C had cleared Billson of breaching ministerial standards and the lobbying code of conduct. |
| He tabled a letter in parliament from the PM&C secretary, Martin Parkinson, dated 4 September. | He tabled a letter in parliament from the PM&C secretary, Martin Parkinson, dated 4 September. |
| “Mr Billson has assured me that he both understands and has complied with his post-ministerial obligations under the standards,” Parkinson said in his letter. “Mr Billson has also assured me that he understands the requirements of the Australian government lobbying code of conduct. | “Mr Billson has assured me that he both understands and has complied with his post-ministerial obligations under the standards,” Parkinson said in his letter. “Mr Billson has also assured me that he understands the requirements of the Australian government lobbying code of conduct. |
| “On the basis of the information available to me, I have no reason to conclude Mr Billson has breached either the statement of ministerial standards or the lobbying code of conduct.” | “On the basis of the information available to me, I have no reason to conclude Mr Billson has breached either the statement of ministerial standards or the lobbying code of conduct.” |
| Turnbull was asked in question time on Monday if Parkinson had interviewed current ministers about the matter, as opposed to former ministers. “I’m advised he did not,” Turnbull said. | Turnbull was asked in question time on Monday if Parkinson had interviewed current ministers about the matter, as opposed to former ministers. “I’m advised he did not,” Turnbull said. |
| Billson has also been referred to the parliamentary privileges committee to see if he should be found in contempt of parliament. | Billson has also been referred to the parliamentary privileges committee to see if he should be found in contempt of parliament. |
| MPs can be found in contempt of parliament if they fail to declare all sources of income and directorships to the register of interests. | MPs can be found in contempt of parliament if they fail to declare all sources of income and directorships to the register of interests. |
| Billson told the ABC last month that he had made an “administrative failing” by failing to disclose his job with the FCA last year. | Billson told the ABC last month that he had made an “administrative failing” by failing to disclose his job with the FCA last year. |
| “[It] was a discourtesy to the House of Representatives and an administrative failing of my behalf not to lodge a timely formal disclosure statement before the parliament was prorogued,” he reportedly said. | “[It] was a discourtesy to the House of Representatives and an administrative failing of my behalf not to lodge a timely formal disclosure statement before the parliament was prorogued,” he reportedly said. |
| “I have contacted the clerk of the house to convey my apologies for this error.” | “I have contacted the clerk of the house to convey my apologies for this error.” |
| Liberal party | |
| Australian politics | |
| Coalition | |
| Malcolm Turnbull | |
| Australian political interests disclosures | |
| news | |
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