Andrew Broad, assistant to transport and infrastructure minister Michael McCormack, has resigned from the frontbench after a gossip magazine alleged he met with a “younger woman” while overseas.
Broad, a National representing the division of Mallee in north-west Victoria, has reportedly said he will not be commenting on the matter, but has been advised “that the person making the allegation may have engaged in criminal activity”.
Broad’s short statement was published by New Idea, the gossip magazine that first published the allegations on Monday morning.
According to the original story, which includes no evidence for the allegations of an unnamed woman, Broad allegedly met with this woman in a Hong Kong restaurant after connecting with her on a dating website.
Broad is stepping down as assistant minister to the deputy prime minister, a role he was assigned by Scott Morrison when Morrison named his first Cabinet after seizing power in August.
Broad has made no statements suggesting he will resign from Parliament.
His division of Mallee is a safe National seat, with Broad winning 71.3 per cent of the two-party-preferred voting in 2016. It has been either a Country, Country National or National seat since it was established in 1949.
In his assistant ministry role, the man Broad had been assisting was deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development Michael McCormack.
McCormack reportedly told ABC he was made aware of the allegations two weeks ago, and urged Broad to advise the Australian Federal Police – a step Broad says he has taken.
“Mr Broad will continue as an effective and hardworking member for Mallee, a role he has capably held since 2013,” McCormack said, according to the ABC.
“I urged him to contact the Australian Federal Police about the allegations that had been made by him, and against him. I think that’s the right course of action and we’ll see what the AFP come up with as a result of those investigations.”