IT contractor Ethan Group won dozens of defence contracts when Pyne was minister, but his firm says he has not breached lobbying rules

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

The former defence minister Christopher Pyne’s lobbying firm is acting for an IT contractor that won more than $50m in work from the defence department in the last four years.

Pyne’s firm, GC Advisory, recently added the contractor, Ethan Group, to its client list.

Tender data suggests it won about 43 contracts with defence worth $8.9m during Pyne’s time as defence minister. In the past four years, it has won roughly 365 contracts worth $53m with defence.

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It is at least the second defence-related client GC Advisory has taken on in recent months, after it was engaged by Saber Astronautics, a company that has won more than $2m in contracts from the defence department in the past year.

That arrangement prompted concerns about compliance with the lobbying code and the ministerial standards, which prohibit former ministers from lobbying on matters they have recently had official dealings with, or using information gained in office for private gain.

Pyne is one of two principals registered as lobbyists for GC Advisory. But a GC Advisory spokesman said the former defence minister did not lobby for defence clients and complied with all his obligations under the code and the standards.

“Mr Pyne is well aware of the code of conduct for previous ministers and he abides by it,” he said. “Mr Pyne does not lobby for any defence clients. GC Advisory adheres to the Lobbying Code of Conduct in every respect.”

There is no suggestion that Ethan Group has won any of its contracts unfairly or that it has acted unethically in any way. A company spokesman said it had engaged GC Advisory Group in August for general consulting work.

“All consulting services that will be provided to Ethan Group by GC Advisory are general in nature and will be in full compliance with all applicable Commonwealth of Australia guidelines and legislation,” the spokesman said.

Pyne’s post-political career has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent months. His job helping the consulting giant EY expand its defence business sparked an inquiry into a potential breach of the ministerial standards.

Ministerial standards prevent former ministers from lobbying or holding business meetings with members of the government, parliament, public service or defence force on any matter for which they held ministerial responsibility for 18 months after leaving parliament.

They also require ministers not to use information they have obtained in office for private gain.

Pyne was cleared of any breach of the standards by the former department of prime minister and cabinet secretary Martin Parkinson, but a subsequent Senate inquiry recommended that the department’s investigation be reopened.

The department issued a brief statement in response to questions about the arrangement between Pyne and Ethan Group, saying: “Mr Pyne has said publicly that he fully understands his obligations, and will abide by the requirements of the Statement of Ministerial Standards on former ministers.”

Pyne is also bound by the lobbying code of conduct, which prohibits former government ministers from engaging “in lobbying activities relating to any matter that they had official dealings with in their last 18 months in office”.

The code of conduct is loosely administered by the attorney general’s department, but possible breaches are rarely acted upon.