Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That the House:

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

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

(b)presenting what have been described as a "medal" from the Prime Minister and a "letter of appointment" 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)further notes that:

(a)before he travelled to China in August 2014, the Minister for Human Services did not advise Australian officials that he was to meet with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Land and Resources accompanied by executives of Nimrod Resources;

(b)the Government is refusing to disclose whether Defence security protocols were breached by the Minister while he was in China;

(c)the principal of Nimrod Resources, Paul Marks, has donated more than $2 million to the Liberal Party in the past two financial years; and

(d)the Minister for Human Services has already admitted to the House that he was travelling in a personal capacity when he assisted Nimrod Resources during his trip to China, and therefore, his actions were a direct breach of Clause 2.20 of the Prime Minister’s own Statement of Ministerial Standards; and

(3)censures the Prime Minister for failing to enforce his own Statement of Ministerial Standards and sack the Minister for Human Services.

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