A federal government political adviser who resigned last year after Fairfax Media revealed his lobbying links to the junk food industry has been included on a commonwealth trade delegation to China.
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On Monday Labor senator Penny Wong accused Trade Minister Andrew Robb of violating federal lobbying rules for taking former adviser Alastair Furnival on the trip, and said the issue "raises serious questions about integrity of the federal lobbying register".
Mr Furnival is not registered as a lobbyist, and if he undertook any lobbying activities on the trip Mr Robb, his staff and any Austrade officials in the delegation would have been in breach of federal lobbying rules.
Documents obtained under freedom of information laws by the Transport Workers Union show Mr Furnival joined the 31-member trade delegation to China in August.
Senator Wong said Mr Robb must explain the situation.
"A senior minister, trade officials and an unregistered lobbyist shouldn't be doing business together," she said.
"Australia's trade reputation is too important to be compromised in this way."
In the Senate on Monday Senator Wong asked why Mr Furnival was on the trip without being officially recorded as a lobbyist "despite working for three lobbying firms and owning another".
However, Mr Furnival denies he is a lobbyist, telling Fairfax Media: "I ceased being a lobbyist in September 2013."
Mr Furnival was engulfed in controversy when as chief of staff to then assistant health minister Fiona Nash he ordered that a new website that allowed companies to voluntarily sign up to a healthy food star-rating system be taken down.
Fairfax later revealed that he co-owned and co-directed with his wife Tracey Cain Strategic Issues Management, a company with connections to junk food and soft drink companies.
Since leaving Senator Nash's office in February 2014 Mr Furnival has taken up positions with companies that work in lobbying and strategic relations.
He was on the trade delegation as a director of Castalia, which describes itself as helping "firms and governments develop effective organisational, contractual and regulatory strategies" but also works in policy, analysis and corporate strategy at communications and lobbying firm Kreab Gavin Anderson.
He holds a further position as a director with He Yi Advisors, which connects international companies with Chinese consumers and regulators, where he is described as having particular interests in agriculture, food, health and eldercare.
"He is beloved of all who encounter him and in turn loves them back," He Yi's website states.
However, although Kreab Gavin Anderson is listed as conducting lobbying activities by the federal lobbyists register, Mr Furnival is not, in his capacity with that company or any others. He still also co-owns Strategic Issues Management.
Mr Robb's office did not respond to queries before deadline.
