Australian Health Minister Sussan Ley has stood down after pressure over several taxpayer-funded flights to the Gold Coast, where she and her partner own property.
Australian Health Minister Sussan Ley, centre, has stood aside until investigations into the travel claims are completed. Photo: AFP
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Ms Ley had agreed to stand aside without ministerial pay during an investigation by the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Mr Turnbull said the secretary would "thoroughly investigate the travel claims".
Ms Ley, a Nigerian-born former pilot, was elected to the federal parliament in 2001. She was appointed to the health portfolio in December 2014.
She told reporters today the decision to stand aside was a mutual one between herself and Mr Turnbull, and said she had not broken any rules.
When asked if she had the prime minister's full support, she responded that they had held many "friendly" conversations.
She did not expect to be forced to stand down permanently, she said.
"I'm very confident that the investigations will demonstrate that no rules were broken whatsoever."
Apartment purchase 'neither planned nor anticipated'
Ms Ley also addressed questions about the property she and her partner purchased in May 2015 while travelling to Queensland on ministerial business.
The full cost of their trip was $AU3125 ($NZ3280) - paid for by taxpayers.
Her partner drew her attention to an auction during the trip, she said.
"I inspected this property for the first time maybe 10 minutes before the auction commenced and I registered to bid," she said.
"I had gained pre-approval to purchase an investment property. I had an idea of what I wanted and this apartment fit the bill. So the purchase of this particular property was neither planned nor anticipated.
"I didn't contact the agent about this property, I didn't make inquiries about it, I didn't make any phone calls, I sent no emails."
- ABC
