Nationals MP Andrew Broad has stepped down as a minister following allegations he used a "seeking arrangements" website to meet younger women while on taxpayer-funded work trips.
Magazine New Idea has published claims from a woman who uses the online alias "Sweet Sophia Rose", who says they met through a website for sugar daddy arrangements.
Nationals leader Michael McCormack said he accepted Mr Broad's resignation as the assistant minister to the deputy prime minister.
"Due to the nature of the allegations made, it is appropriate for Mr Broad to resign as the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister," Mr McCormack said.
Mr McCormack also said the matter may also be subject to future investigation, preventing comment on the details of the allegations.
Nationals MP Andrew Broad has resigned as assistant minister. Source: AAP
Mr Broad, who is married, told New Idea that the woman who made the allegations "may have engaged in criminal activity", but did not go into detail.
“This matter has been reported to the Australian Federal Police and I will not be making any further comment.”
The woman told the magazine that she met Mr Broad in Hong Kong.
"He kept saying that he was very important and that when he left he was going to have to throw away his phone. He referred to himself as James Bond numerous times."
In February, Mr Broad became the first Coalition MP to call for then Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce's resignation after his affair with a staffer became public.
He also opposed same-sex marriage citing strong family values, making a crude comparison to rams in a paddock.
"I think a bicycle is not a tricycle, and relationships can have different names," he said.
"I can put the rams in a paddock and they might mount one another, but no lambs will come out."
Mr Broad is expected to remain on the backbench.
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