Extract from ABC News
Christian Porter has resigned from Prime Minster Scott Morrison's ministry after revealing he had accepted an anonymous donation to help cover his personal legal fees.
Key points:
- Prime Minister says Mr Porter couldn't provide the information to "avoid any perception of conflicts of interest"
- Energy Minister Angus Taylor will temporarily take responsibility for Mr Porter's portfolios
- Finance Minister Simon Birmingham conceded Mr Porter's disclosure was "an unusual one"
Mr Porter's future on the frontbench had been in doubt following his declaration that a "blind trust" had paid for part of his discontinued defamation case against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan.
Mr Morrison had offered no defence of his Industry and Science Minister and asked the head of his department, Phil Gaetjens, to investigate whether the declaration was in breach of the ministerial standards.
On Sunday, Mr Morrison announced Mr Porter was unable to "conclusively rule out a perceived conflict of interest" and as a result had chosen to resign.
"He has this afternoon taken the appropriate course of action to uphold those standards by tendering his resignation as a minister this afternoon, and I have accepted his resignation," Mr Morrison said.
"His actions have been about upholding the standards.
"We believe they are incredibly important, and it is not just about actual conflicts, it's about the standards for ministers to have an obligation to avoid any perception of conflicts of interest that is ultimately what has led the Minister to make that decision this afternoon."
The Prime Minister revealed he was still waiting for the advice from Mr Gaetjens but given that Mr Porter has quit, "that matter is now concluded".
"There are grey areas in these issues, complex arrangements when applied to particular circumstances can be inconclusive," he said.
"But the Minister has taken the decision which errs on the side of upholding the highest standards."
Mr Morrison is due to fly to the United States on Monday for face-to-face meetings with the leaders of the "Quad" strategic alliance.
Porter quits instead of pressuring trust to reveal donors.
Mr Porter will now move to the backbench — bringing to an end his six-year cabinet career — and Energy Minister Angus Taylor will temporarily take over his portfolios.
In a lengthy statement, Mr Porter insisted his disclosure was within the rules but conceded the uncertainty over who contributed to the trust had become an "unhelpful distraction for the government".
"Ultimately, I decided that if I have to make a choice between seeking to pressure the trust to break individuals' confidentiality in order to remain in Cabinet, or alternatively forego my Cabinet position, there is only one choice I could, in all conscience, make," he said.
"Consequently, I provided the Prime Minister with my resignation earlier today.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said this was not the end of the matter, alleging Mr Porter was "in breach of his obligations as a Member of Parliament".
"He needs to answer where this money came from. Members of Parliament, as well as ministers, just can't accept money from anonymous donors for a private legal matter," Mr Albanese said.
"And that's what's happened here."
Mr Porter updated his register of members' interests last Tuesday, revealing a blind trust known as the "Legal Services Trust" had made a "part contribution" to cover the costs of his lawsuit against the public broadcaster.
A spokesman for Mr Porter said he had "undertaken disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the Register and consistent with previous members' disclosure of circumstances where the costs of personal legal matters have been mitigated by contributions or reductions in fees".
"No taxpayers' funds were used in meeting the costs of the Minister's actions against the ABC and Milligan, which have now concluded," the spokesman said.
The former attorney-general confirmed he has nominated to recontest his West Australian seat of Pearce at the next federal election and intends to run as the Liberal candidate.
"I have previously stated my determination to contest the next election in Pearce and have nominated for preselection, and I have no intention of standing aside from my responsibilities to the people of Pearce," he said.
Porter's disclosure 'unusual', Finance Minister says.
Earlier on Sunday, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham refused to say whether he would accept money from an anonymous source, saying it was not his job to offer a "personal view".
But Senator Birmingham conceded Mr Porter's disclosure was "an unusual one".
"That's why [the Prime Minister] has sought precise and specific advice on that, as he's done in relation to previous questions around conduct and compliance with the Code of Conduct," he said.
"We should all act in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the code."
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