Mal Brough Should Stand Aside from Ministry Positions: Clive Palmer

Federal Member for Fairfax

Media release

Palmer United Party federal leader and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, said the Member for Fisher Mal Brough continues to be under investigation from the Australian Federal Police.

The AFP is investigating Mal Brough after Labor MP Graham Perrett filed a second complaint against him after his involvement in the demise of former federal Speaker Peter Slipper.

Mr Palmer said the AFP has confirmed they are still investigating Mal Brough over ‘Ashbygate’, a year after a second complaint was raised about him.

“Mal Brough should stand aside from his ministry positions as Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence Materials & Science whilst he is under investigation from the AFP,” Mr Palmer said.

“It was disappointing to see Mal Brough take on key leadership roles in Malcolm Turnbull’s cabinet.”

Mr Palmer said this is not the first time Mal Brough has made questionable and disappointing decisions.

“Mal Brough told current affairs program 60 Minutes that he had directed Mr Slipper’s former media advisor, James Ashby, to obtain copies of Mr Slipper’s diary,” he said.

“Mr Brough told 60 Minutes he was doing it for the sake of the electors of Fisher, whom he now represents, because he believed Mr Slipper may have been committing a crime.

“The people of Fisher who are in the neighbouring electorate to my seat of Fairfax on the Sunshine Coast deserve some answers and Mal Brough should not be accepting leadership roles while he is under investigation from the AFP.”

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