Tory ex-Ministers' Behavior post election

[Black Orchid]

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ordered an investigation amid allegations former ministers Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop might have breached parliamentary rules.

The former defence and foreign affairs ministers have attracted criticism from Labor and the crossbench after accepting roles with consulting firms since quitting politics.

They deny they have breached the Statement of Ministerial Standards, which states former ministers cannot take lobbying jobs for 18 months after leaving office.

The Government's Senate leader, Mathias Cormann, told Parliament Mr Morrison had written to the secretary of his department to investigate whether Mr Pyne and Ms Bishop had broken the rules.

He said the careers of all former ministers, from both the Coalition and Labor, would be assessed.

"As part of this, [Mr Morrison] has sought advice on actions that can be taken to ensure compliance with the code," Senator Cormann said.

"Additionally, as part of this advice, [Mr Morrison] has asked the secretary about the application of the provisions of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2019 to the activities of former ministers and elected representatives."

Senator Cormann announced the review as Centre Alliance sought to refer Mr Pyne's post-political appointment to a Senate committee for an inquiry.

But following Senator Cormann's announcement, senator Rex Patrick deferred calling for that inquiry until a later date.

"Minister Cormann will inform the chamber of the response. I will wait to see what the response is," Mr Patrick said.

"If I am not satisfied, I will press for the inquiry to proceed.

"This is a very important issue."

Ms Bishop was the foreign affairs minister who overhauled the Government's approach to foreign aid spending. She is now working for one of the biggest beneficiaries of that policy.

On Tuesday, Labor's Penny Wong said Ms Bishop's new job with private aid contractor Palladium was a breach of ministerial standards.

Senator Patrick has repeatedly called on Mr Morrison to intervene following Mr Pyne taking a job as a defence consultant with multinational business advisers EY.

Mr Pyne was the defence minister until the May 18 federal election.

Ms Bishop stepped down as foreign minister after the Liberal leadership spill ended her tenure as the Liberal Party's deputy leader.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-04/ ... w/11277978

[Black Orchid]

The Attorney-General’s Department formally warned Christopher Pyne that he was banned from lobbying for a defence contractor that won millions of dollars in government work, including during his time as minister.

The Guardian revealed last year that GC Advisory, Pyne’s lobbyist firm, planned to lobby on behalf of a defence contractor, Saber Astronautics, which had won three contracts with the defence department worth $2.7m in the previous 12 months.

A day after the Guardian’s report, the Attorney-General’s Department wrote to Pyne’s firm to remind it that the former defence minister was banned from lobbying for clients like Saber. Lobbying rules prohibit former government ministers from engaging “in lobbying activities relating to any matter that they had official dealings with in their last 18 months in office”.

Documents obtained through freedom of information show the head of the department’s integrity and security division, Andrew Walter, expressly warned GC Advisory that it must take steps to avoid a conflict of interest.

“We understand that Saber currently holds a number of contracts with the Department of Defence, some of which were obtained while Mr Pyne held the position of Minister for Defence,” Walter wrote.

“As such, Mr Pyne is prohibited from engaging in lobbying activities on behalf of Saber until 11 October 2020.”

The letter, though, highlights difficulties in enforcing the lobbying rules. Walter could only seek assurances from GC Advisory that Pyne would be kept at arm’s length from involvement with Saber.

“While this does not prevent other GC Advisory lobbyists from undertaking lobbying on behalf of Saber, the department seeks your assurance that Mr Pyne will not do so and that appropriate processes are put in place to manage any potential conflict of interest,” he wrote.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... contractor

Ethan Group, Saber tutt tutt.

[brian ross]

Christopher Pyne has always been a slimy little shyster, Black Orchid. Julie Bishop it should be remember recommended that defendants in the Asbestos Cases brought against the Abestos miners should be waited out. Tsk, tsk.

[Black Orchid]

I have never liked Christopher Pyne, Brian, and have said so a thousand times!

[Juliar]

Who really cares anymore ? They are dead and gone.

[brian ross]

I have never liked Christopher Pyne, Brian, and have said so a thousand times!

He is typical of the type that the Tories produce. I never said you liked him.

[Juliar]

What about the dreadful Juliar Gillard and the obnoxious lying Shifty Shorty who lost the election because the voters could not stand him and now that nobody the Anal Schoolboy ?