Labor says Malcolm Turnbull needs to take concrete action to assure himself that the former trade minister Andrew Robb is not in breach of the ministerial code of conduct.
The shadow special minister of state, Don Farrell, wrote to the prime minister late on Thursday asking that he take steps to assure himself that the former trade minister was in compliance with the rules.
The prime minister said this week Robb had not talked to him before taking on a new role as an economic consultant with the Chinese company that now operates the Darwin port.
Landbridge signed a $506m agreement with the Northern Territory government in October last year for a 99-year lease of the port. Landbridge announced on 2 September that Robb had joined the company as a consultant.
Robb retired from politics at the July election, after a stint as the government’s special trade envoy. He retired as trade minister in February 2016.
The ministerial code forbids ministers from lobbying or advocating with the government for 18 months after their political retirement. The code also says ministers should not take personal advantage of information to which they had access in their ministerial role.
Farrell says in the letter to Turnbull the prime minister needs to write to Robb seeking clarification “to address public concern on this matter”.
“In addition, I ask that your letter make clear to Mr Robb that the 18-month period commences from the point at which he ceased his role as special envoy for trade, and not at the point at which he ceased being minister for trade,” Farrell said.
Farrell says a special envoy would have access to confidential information and be privy to sensitive government decisions, and it would clearly be “against the spirit of the document” to give Robb a leave pass.
He also asks the prime minister to seek assurance from his ministers “that they have not had professional dealings with Mr Robb since his resignation from parliament”.
Robb this week dismissed questions about whether he was in breach of the government’s rules. He said he had no intention of breaching the responsibilities set out in the code.
“Why am I challenged? Just because it’s political, I suppose, but I don’t care really, I’m going to go ahead and develop the relationships, there’s always people who want to put a slur on what others are doing,” Robb told reporters.
“The US and Europe have gone protectionist, what’s opening up the region is opening up so I make no apology for looking to build relationships so we can increase trade and investment with our neighbours,” he said.
“Australia has to realise that our future depends very, very heavily on the countries around us in this region and I am going to spend as much time as I can developing those relationships for the benefit of Australian businesses and our community.”
Robb was also defended this week by the current trade minister, Steve Ciobo, who said it made sense to have former ministers working to secure opportunities for Australian businesses.
