Questions raised over Peter Dutton’s undeclared ties to childcare businesses

An investigation by Four Corners has found that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton did not declare his interest as a beneficiary in a family trust that owned several childcare businesses, raising questions about disclosure processes and transparency in public life.

Documents show Mr Dutton was a beneficiary of the RHT Family Trust between 2014 and 2016, during which time he did not declare this interest to parliament. His wife, Kirilly Dutton, was listed as having interests in childcare businesses at the time, but Mr Dutton’s direct connection to the trust was not disclosed.

Under parliamentary rules, MPs are required to declare any financial interests held in trusts. Transparency International Australia CEO Clancy Moore noted that disclosure is essential to maintaining public confidence in elected officials, particularly where financial interests may intersect with government policy.

The investigation also found the Dutton family earned approximately $15 million over two decades through the operation, sale and purchase of childcare services and property investments. Several of these business dealings were linked to entities associated with the former ABC Learning founder, Eddy Groves.

One sale involving a Dutton family childcare service occurred on the eve of the 2022 federal election and involved parties connected to the Imagine Early Learning group.

In a statement, the Liberal Party said Mr Dutton had declared his financial interests and those of his family. However, the statement did not directly address the timing of Mr Dutton’s declaration of his beneficiary status.

Former Court of Appeal judge Margaret White said that non-disclosure can create a perception of a conflict of interest and called for further clarification to address community concerns.

This article and image was originally published and sourced by ABC News. Read the original here.