Stuart Robert backer has left the country and ‘severed all ties’, inquiry learns
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A key witness in a parliamentary inquiry into consulting firm Synergy 360 has “severed all ties” with Australia and will not provide evidence at a hearing on Friday.
John Margerison is a former part-owner of Synergy 360 and chief fundraiser for ex-Liberal MP and minister Stuart Robert, who recently quit federal parliament.
Synergy 360 has been accused of setting up a channel to secretly pay Robert in return for Robert’s help in winning government contracts, but there is no evidence that Robert has received any payment.
Synergy 360 part-owner David Milo, former MP Stuart Robert and Synergy 360 co-owner, John Margerison.Credit: Fairfax Media
Margerison was due to appear before the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, which is chaired by Labor MP Julian Hill, to answer questions about procurement by Services Australia and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Hill said in a statement that Margerison’s lawyer had informed the committee that Margerison was now resident overseas, “having severed all ties with the country of Australia many weeks ago!”
Margerison’s whereabouts have not been disclosed and, further, he claimed via his lawyer to now be located and resident overseas.
“That Mr Margerison’s lawyer now claims he has left and severed all ties with Australia is a somewhat surprising turn of events indeed. Mr Margerison’s whereabouts remains a matter of great mystery.”
“Notwithstanding Mr Margerison’s refusal to fully address the questions put to him in April and appear this Friday, the JCPAA will continue to conduct this inquiry in a proper fashion. The Committee will make findings based on the evidence before it. It remains within the JCPAA’s power to recommend referrals to other investigative bodies with additional resources and powers.”
More to come
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