The Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon, has resigned from the Rudd government.
Fitzgibbon is the first ministerial casualty since the Labor government was elected in November 2007.
In his letter of resignation, Fitzgibbon says he has reviewed the transcript of proceedings at the Senate Estimates Committee hearing last night. In relation to his brother’s dealings with Humana, an American-managed health insurance company, and Defence officials, Fitzgibbon told the prime minister: “Despite have made it clear to all parties that it was important that I not be involved, I am not satisfied that contact between the various parties leave it clear that I have entirely conformed with your Ministerial Code of Conduct.”