A Chinese company may have gained access to sensitive Australian government information after hiring former minister Andrew Robb, says Labor.
Mr Robb, who stood down as Australia's trade minister in February, was appointed a high-level economic consultant with Landbridge two months ago, according to a statement from the company.
In October 2015, Landbridge was named as the winning bidder for a 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin.
The lease sparked concerns from within Defence about a Chinese firm taking control of what could be considered a sensitive, strategic asset.
It also led the coalition government to appoint former spy chief David Irvine to the Foreign Investment Review Board in December 2015, in a bid to add "national security expertise" to the advisory body.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Monday Mr Robb had not told him about the new role, but he had no problem with former ministers "pursuing a career".
Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh said the role raised some serious questions, which Mr Turnbull seemed to have overlooked.
"Andrew Robb had access to some extremely sensitive data during his period as trade minister ... and it's absolutely imperative that Australians know that that sensitive data acquired in the public interest isn't being used for private interest," Dr Leigh told reporters in Canberra.
Under ministerial standards, former ministers are banned from lobbying the government for 18 months or taking personal advantage of information to which they had access as a minister.
Treasurer Scott Morrison praised the former minister's ethical standards.
"If people are suggesting anything about Andrew Robb then frankly they are impugning our finest ever trade minister and they are doing it without any basis at all, and just seeking to slur," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney.
Mr Morrison said the Port of Darwin issue was "not a matter that came before the federal government for decision" and there was "no Foreign Investment Review Board approval because there was no FIRB assessment required under the Act".
However Mr Robb said in November 2015 there had been a nine-month consultation with Defence and the FIRB and the lease had received "strong support" from agencies.
FIRB chairman Brian Wilson said in March he had sought advice from Defence and national security agencies on the port lease.
The Landbridge statement quoted board chairman Ye Cheng as saying that in order for it to achieve its global goals "it will be necessary to draw on experts such as Mr Andrew Robb who have global vision and global influence".
Mr Robb was photographed with Mr Ye at an investors' forum in Darwin in November 2015.
He also chaired a CEO roundtable involving Landbridge in China in April 2014.
The former minister has been a staunch defender of Landbridge's purchase of the Darwin port, saying criticism was misplaced.
A Senate hearing on October 17 was told Mr Turnbull did not seek his department's advice on Mr Robb's post-politics work.
Mr Robb's office was asked for comment.
While his personal website lists other jobs he has taken in the past six months, it does not list the Landbridge role.
