Former small business minister Bruce Billson has been referred to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee after revelations on 7.30 that he failed to disclose payments from a lobby group while he was still in parliament.
Mr Billson became executive director of the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) after quitting politics at the July 2016 federal election, but it has since been revealed that he began receiving his $75,000 salary months before he left Parliament.
In referring the Mr Billson to the committee, Speaker Tony Smith highlighted two matters for consideration:
- "The first is corruption in the execution of a Member's office as a Member … the acceptance by a member of either House of a bribe to influence him in his conduct as a Member, or of any fee, compensation or reward in connection with the promotion of or opposition to any bill, resolution, matter or thing submitted or intended to be submitted to either House, or to a committee is a contempt," he told Parliament.
- "The second is lobbying for reward or consideration … no Members of the House shall, in consideration of any remuneration, fee, payment, reward or benefit in kind, direct or indirect … advocate or initiate any cause or matter on behalf of any outside body or individual; or urge any Member of either House of Parliament, including ministers, to do so, by means of any speech, question, motion, introduction of a bill, or amendment to a motion or bill."
Appointment was not concealed: Billson
Mr Billson was dropped from the ministry in a reshuffle by the new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, in November 2015.
In March 2016 he announced that he was going to take on the role of executive director of the FCA.
"[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," Mr Billson told 7.30 in an email.
"I have contacted the Clerk of the House to convey my apologies for this error."
However, he insisted that his new role was publicly known within Parliament.
"There is no basis for inferring my appointment was concealed or not known publicly or within the Parliament," Mr Billson said.
"No conflict existed between my parliamentary responsibilities or FCA role."
If Mr Billson is found to have acted improperly, he could be found to be in contempt of Parliament.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is also conducting its own investigation on whether Mr Billson breached ministerial guidelines.
