ASIC to inquire into Qld MP Stuart Robert

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will examine Queensland MP Stuart Robert's business structure.

Stuart Robert

Coalition backbencher Stuart Robert is under scrutiny over his business dealings. (AAP)

Australia's corporate watchdog plans to make some inquiries into the business affairs of Queensland Liberal National Party MP Stuart Robert.

Fairfax Media has reported the federal MP's father Alan Robert was not aware he was a director of a private investment company that held shares in his son's computer service firm which had millions of dollars in government contracts.

Mr Robert said the private investment company Robert International had been run by his son during the six-year period he and his wife Dorothy were the company's only directors.

John Price, from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, told a parliamentary economics committee hearing in Canberra on Thursday the watchdog would make inquiries, after Labor questions on whether he had seen the media report.

"Will ASIC be investigating that?" Labor MP Matt Keogh asked.

"I think we'll make some inquiries into that, yes," Mr Price said.

ASIC confirmed in the hearing no identity check was needed for someone to become a company director, but rather it was a matter of filling in a form.

Without directly commenting on Mr Robert's case, Mr Price said knowingly lodging a false or misleading document was an office under corporations law with a maximum term of five years in jail.

Mr Robert told parliament his parents, as directors of the company, had signed the annual trust resolutions over many years.

"My father is a sophisticated investor and even today runs a very successful business," he said.

The MP became emotional when he spoke of his father caring for his mother who had just been discharged from hospital after a second heart attack.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world