Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended Australia's ambassador to the United States over a Liberal-linked travel company tender, as Labor sought an investigation.
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The Sydney Morning Herald and Age reported ambassador Joe Hockey, a former Liberal government federal treasurer, had asked embassy staff to meet with travel services company Helloworld before it lobbied for government work.
Mr Hockey is one of the top 20 shareholders in Helloworld, which is run by Liberal Party federal treasurer Andrew Burnes.
Mr Morrison told parliament on Wednesday Mr Hockey had no role in the tender process and had declared his business interests in accordance with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's guidelines.
He said the April 2017 meeting which was the subject of the media report was not in relation to the tender process.
Helloworld said in a statement to the ASX one of its subsidiaries QBT had requested a meeting in 2017 with DFAT personnel in the US to discuss the provision of travel management services and the meeting took place.
"QBT understands DFAT personnel met a number of travel services providers as part of its considerations in relation to the provision of travel services in the United States," the company said.
"In August 2018, DFAT started a formal tender process, which QBT has responded to. No announcement has been made in relation to this tender."
The company confirmed at no time had Mr Hockey or Helloworld CEO Andrew Burnes discussed the DFAT tender and "neither Mr Hockey nor Mr Burnes have had any involvement in the tender process".
"At all times Helloworld and Mr Burnes have acted properly in the tender process."
Labor sought to suspend question time on Wednesday to call on the prime minister to investigate Liberal dealings with Helloworld.
Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus read in parliament correspondence which indicated Mr Hockey had requested the meeting with Helloworld.
Labor finance spokesman Jim Chalmers said "serious issues" needed an explanation.
"This is a very Liberal scandal that we're dealing with ... it has got all of the mates at the top end of town, all the insider deals that lockout ordinary working people, all of the ingredients of what we've come to expect from this government," Mr Chalmers said.
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said he "genuinely thought" he had paid for a family holiday booked through Mr Burnes.
The senator has now paid $2780 for flights to Singapore in January 2018, after it was revealed he got the holiday for free.
Helloworld was chosen for a $21 million government tender just weeks before the trip was booked, but Senator Cormann said he had no involvement with the choice of the company or any influence over the process.
Australian Associated Press