Staying with Ed Husic on ABC’s News Breakfast, and he’s weighed in on what he calls “serious” allegations against senior federal Coalition MP Stuart Robert.
As Nick McKenzie and David Crowe revealed this morning Robert has been secretly providing advice to a Canberra lobbying and consulting firm that helps large companies win lucrative government contracts and obtain access to senior Coalition politicians, including Peter Dutton.
A cache of leaked emails reveals how Robert used his status as a federal MP in 2017 and 2018 to help the firm, Synergy 360, sign up corporate clients with the promise of helping them navigate the federal public service and political system and meet key decision-makers, including senior Coalition ministers. Synergy 360 is paid a retainer by companies to lobby officials and is paid a commission if a contract is successfully secured.
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald is not suggesting Robert was an employee of Synergy 360 or was paid for his advice and assistance. Robert has denied helping or advising Synergy 360 in its work with any companies that were trying to get government contracts.
Here’s what Husic said about the article earlier this morning.
I think the allegations are serious... I think that the opposition will need to be able to provide full detail on this.
For example, how many people that Mr Robert may have recommended to meet with Mr Dutton, how many of those meetings actually did occur?
These are some of the most serious allegations...
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