Andrew Robb says states should reassess processes after Arthur Sinodinos was forced to stand down as assistant treasurer

States should reassess the rules of evidence used by bodies such as the independent commission against corruption in New South Wales, a senior federal minister has suggested, after senator Arthur Sinodinos was forced to stand aside as assistant treasurer because of Icac revelations.



Sinodinos has been called to give evidence at Icac, but he is not the subject of investigation. However, Labor says information already on the record about his time as a director and chairman of Australian Water Holdings raises serious questions for the senator and for prime minister Tony Abbott.



The trade minister, Andrew Robb, suggested on Sunday the rules of evidence at such inquiries needed rethinking. “As a public figure I’m always reluctant to start making strong statements or rash statements about bodies that have been set up to keep public figures accountable, so I’m careful in that regard,” he said on Sky News.



“I must say, though, that the absence of evidence and processes that are part currently – and have been for centuries – of the criminal and civil systems in our community, I think that’s something that needs to be assessed when we are assessing, or the states are assessing, the roles of these bodies such as Icac that have been put in place in various states.”



The former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid labelled Icac a "sham" and a "star chamber" after it handed down three reports recommending the director of public prosecutions consider pressing criminal charges against him.



As federal parliament prepares to resume on Monday for the final sitting week before the May budget, the opposition finance spokeswoman, senator Penny Wong, has indicated Labor will continue its campaign to draw Abbott into the controversy surrounding Sinodinos.



“It really goes to this very simple point: what did the prime minister know and when?” she told ABC’s Insiders.



“What did he know when he appointed senator Sinodinos to the ministry? Did he know, for example, that senator Sinodinos's conduct would be the subject of two independent commission against corruption investigations? What decisions did he make? Either the prime minister isn't being up-front with Australians about what he knew or he didn't engage in due diligence.”



“At the time he appointed senator Sinodinos to the ministry he told Australians: ‘There is no cloud hanging over Arthur Sinodinos.’ Well if that's the case did he make inquiries? And what inquiries did he make? And what did he know?”



The Greens argue that a federal corruption commission is needed but the Gillard government rejected the recommendation of a parliamentary commission to establish a national anti-corruption watchdog.

