The Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, has stood aside from the Turnbull ministry, pending an investigation into her travel expenses.
The Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will investigate her travel expenses in relation to visits to the Gold Coast over the past couple of years. During one visit, Ley purchased an investment property. The Health department will also conduct an investigation.
Ley will stand aside without ministerial pay, until the investigation is completed. Senator Arthur Sinodinos will act as Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Minister for Sport.
At her press conference in Albury, Ley denied any wrongdoing. In a statement issued yesterday, she apologised for an “error of judgement”.
Ley is the first ministerial casualty of the Turnbull government since last year’s election. After replacing Tony Abbott in September 2015, Turnbull lost three ministers in his first five months as prime minister.
- Listen to Sussan Ley’s press conference in Albury (14m)
- Watch Ley’s press conference (14m)
- Listen to the ALP’s Penny Wong comment on Ley (3m)
- Ministerial Resignations and Dismissals Since 1901
- Malcolm Turnbull’s Statement of Ministerial Standards
Statement from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
Travel claims by the Minister for Health
Today I have asked the Secretary of my Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet for advice in relation to the Statement of Ministerial Standards relating to travel claims made by the Minister for Health, Aged Care and Sport, the Hon Sussan Ley MP. [Read more…]