A Turnbull government MP took a publicly funded "study tour" to Europe that included a visit to a Polish coal mine in which he owns shares.
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Luke Simpkins, a West Australian Liberal, slugged taxpayers nearly $5000 for his seven-day jaunt through Poland and the Netherlands in April and May last year.
In his written report to the Department of Finance, Mr Simpkins said the purpose of his journey to Poland was to "examine the bilateral relationship, including economic opportunities for Australian businesses".
But he did not disclose that he had a direct financial interest in the one Polish coal mine he chose to visit - the Australian-owned Prairie Mining project in Lublin, two hours' drive south-east of Warsaw.
In an update to the register of member's interests in November 2014, Mr Simpkins declared his purchase of "Prairie Downs" shares. The WA-based company, now known as Prairie Mining, is currently digging 722 million tonnes of coal in four locations around Lublin.
In his five-page report of his trip, Mr Simpkins, waxed about the success of Prairie Mining, even suggesting the mine was being "acclaimed" by local politicians.
"I attended a number of meetings In Lublin [east Poland] and in the region. The region has a great need for Industry and the resulting employment. The consistent message was that Prairie Mining as a Western Australian coal mining company was being very well received. At every level of government, Prairie was wanted and their methods of engaging the community were being acclaimed," he wrote.
In Lublin, Mr Simpkins, a self-described sceptic of anthropogenic climate change, met with Janusz Jakimowicz,a geologist who is the company's president and chairman in Poland.
A spokesman for Mr Simpkins said that as chairman of the parliamentary friendship groups for both Poland and The Netherlands, the MP's "main aim" in Poland was "the bilateral relationship and the stability of Eastern Europe".
"There have been a number of speeches in the Parliament consistent with that interest. An example being the proliferation of Russian propaganda via [24/7 Russian news channel] RT, and the efforts of the Polish Government to counter that television channel," he said.
"Mr Simpkins visited the potential mine site for 30 minutes as part of the trip out of a four-day visit, looking at a West Australian business in Poland. He did not disclose the shares in the official report, as they are publicly accessible on the Register of Interests.
"The shares were purchased in support of an Australian business. The shares are worth $320."
According to ASX data, Prairie Mining shares have fallen from a high in 2013 at just under 80 cents to be currently trading at 16 cents. At that price, Mr Simpkins' holding in the company is likely to be 2000 shares.
According to an update to the interests register made on June 17 last year, Mr Simpkins received a night's accommodation in Lublin courtesy of "Prairie Mining" but his office did not confirm whether this was during the study tour.
All overseas study travel has to be approved by the Special Minister of State, which was Michael Ronaldson at the time. Guidelines around study tours issued by the Department of Finance do not mention visits that involve direct pecuniary interests.
The Coalition has been rocked by a number of travel-related scandals, including the "choppergate" affair that led to the end of Bronwyn Bishop's career as Speaker. Former prime minister Tony Abbott was forced to tighten rules after Fairfax Media revealed the late WA Liberal MP Don Randall had flown his wife to Cairns on "electorate business" but on the same trip they took possession of a new investment property.
Mr Randall paid back $5000 spent charged to the public of the Cairns trip.
Mr Simpkins' interests register shows he accepted an eight-day tour of Azerbaijan, paid for by that country's government in June last year.
