Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Isaacs from moving the following motion forthwith—

That the House:

(1) notes that during a trip to China in August 2014 the Minister for Human Services provided assistance to Nimrod Resources by:

(a) participating in a signing ceremony which sealed a mining deal between Nimrod Resources and a Chinese state-owned company;

(b) presenting what have been described as a letter of appointment and a medal from the Prime Minister to an official of the Chinese state-owned company; and

(c) meeting with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Land and Resources, accompanied by executives of Nimrod Resources;

(2) notes that:

(a) the minister himself has stated in the House that his visit to China was in a personal capacity;

(b) except where the Prime Minister has given permission to continue an interest in a family business, the Prime Minister's own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a personal capacity; and

(c) the minister repeatedly answers each question asked in the House by referring to his earlier statement, even where it bears no relevance to the question being asked; and

(3) calls on the Minister for Human Services to immediately attend the House to:

(a) give a full and comprehensive account of his activities during his trip to China, including a full account of his itinerary, program, meetings and speeches; and

(b) explain to the House and to the people of Australia why he has not yet resigned for breaching the Prime Minister's statement of ministerial standards.

The Prime Minister should show some leadership and sack this minister right now—immediately.

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