Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's ministerial standards prohibit former ministers from lobbying members of parliament on any matter relevant to their previous portfolio within 18 months after ceasing to be a minister. Bruce Billson ceased to be small business minister in September 2015. Reports now confirm that MPs were lobbied by him as soon as he was appointed to the Franchise Council in March 2016. Has the Prime Minister taken any action in relation to what is an obvious breach of ministerial standards?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for raising that matter with me and I will raise it with the secretary of my department to investigate.