- Nationals leader Michael McCormack was questioned about his rental income
- He said Friday’s declaration was of rent paid by his daughter starting January 31
- Mr McCormack said his investment property had no paying tenants before that
- He took over as Deputy Prime Minister after Barnaby Joyce resigned on Friday
New Nationals leader has been questioned about declaring rental income only a day after taking office.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack explained the money was board paid since January 31 2018 by his daughter living in his Melbourne investment property while working.
Mr McCormack updated his disclosures on Friday – the same day his predecessor Barnaby Joyce resigned over fallout with his affair with a former staffer.
New Nationals leader Michael McCormack (pictured) has been questioned over declaring rental income only a day after taking office
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack claimed the money was board paid by his daughter living in his Melbourne investment property while working (pictured is the disclosure)
Just a day after Mr McCormack took over he faced questions as to whether he may have breached the disclosure rules, but said it reflected new rental payments from his daughter.
I declared the token amount we have just started charging our daughter board in the past few weeks,’ he said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.
‘There is no rental agreement in place. This is the first year since she moved to Melbourne that she has full-time permanent work as a teacher.
‘We have not charged her in the past to enable her to get on her feet and have only this school year, beginning 31 January, started charging her the equivalent of board.’
Mr McCormack updated his disclosures on Friday – the same day his predecessor Barnaby Joyce (pictured) resigned over fallout with his affair with a former staffer
‘It was declared on 23 February. We have not had a paying tenant since purchasing the property [in September 2016].’
Any changes to member’s interests must be disclosed within 28 days, meaning Mr McCormack has not breached ministerial standards.
The register of member’s interests filed and updated by Mr McCormack shows a number of gift disclosures over the past year.
He received a framed picture of Attaturk from a Turkish Governor, tickets to the Melbourne and Sydney Ashes Tests, and seats at the Australian Open men’s final.
The member for Riverina also declared Derby Day, Melbourne Cup, AFL Grand Final and Country Championships at Randwick racecourse hospitality.
Mr McCormack (pictured) said he has not had a ‘paying tenant’ living in the property since he bought it in September 2016