LABOR has accused Mining Minister Adam Brooks of having a serious conflict of interest in his previous role as Parliamentary Secretary for Trade.
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Labor’s questions focused on conversations Mr Brooks had with Chinese mining companies during a trade mission to China in 2015.
Mr Brooks is in the process of divesting his interests in all companies after he was appointed Mining and Building and Construction Minister in February, in accordance with advice from Department of Premier and Cabinet Secretary, Greg Johannes.
Mr Brooks said he had been open and honest about his business interests and did not have a conflict of interest.
Labor asked eight questions about Mr Brooks’ business interests, including comparisons to Federal MP Stuart Robert, who stood down from the Ministry after an internal investigation found he had acted inconsistently with ministerial standards on a trip to China.
The Opposition also labelled Mr Brooks a “shadow Director” of MSS, and compared him to recent speculation about Palmer United Party leader and mining magnate Clive Palmer.
Mr Brooks said Labor’s questioning was “grubby” and rubbished them “for not having anything more important to ask about”.
“They don’t want to ask us about the budget, they don’t want to ask us about energy, they don’t want to ask us about mining… they’ve now decided they’ve got nothing else,” he said.