Fed: MPs don't have to declare gifts before public life: Gillard

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2009
Fed: MPs don't have to declare gifts before public life: Gillard

Acting Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD has criticised a report about Defence Minister
JOEL FITZGIBBON in a newspaper today .. saying there's no requirement for politicians
to declare gifts they receive before they enter parliament.

Mr FITZGIBBON's admitted he failed to declare two trips he took to China in 2002 and
2005 .. paid for by Chinese-born Sydney businesswoman HELEN LIU.

And today's Canberra Times says she also paid for a trip Mr FITZGIBBON took to China
in 1993 .. before he became an MP.

But Ms GILLARD's told ABC TV Mr FITZGIBBON wasn't required to declare this trip ..

and the matter's closed.

The opposition's said it plans to pursue the relationship between Mr FITZGIBBON and
Ms LIU when parliament reopens.

AAP RTV srj/rl/rt

KEYWORD: FITZGIBBON GILLARD (CANBERRA)

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