The opposition has asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate dumped Liberal minister Stuart Robert over his part in a mining deal during a private trip to China.
Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus referred the trip to AFP commissioner Andrew Colvin after an investigation by the prime minister's department secretary found Mr Robert had breached ministerial standards by overseeing the deal while in China.
Mr Dreyfus told ABC radio on Monday the revelation Mr Robert held shares in the mining company had taken the matter to another level and was potentially a criminal abuse of public office.
Cabinet minister Josh Frydenberg told ABC TV the investigations needed to run their course, but his colleague had paid a "very high price".
Mr Dreyfus said Mr Robert had paid the appropriate price.
"He can't possibly continue as a minister," he told ABC TV.
He said Mr Robert should have resigned last Monday, when it became clear he had breached ministerial standards.
"We had to wait until it could be buried on Friday afternoon."
