From left:Synergy 360 part-owner David Milo,former MP Stuart Robert and Synergy 360 co-owner John Margerison.Credit:Fairfax Media
Synergy 360 has been accused of setting up a channel to secretly pay Robert in return for Robert’s help in winning government contracts,but there is no evidence that Robert has received any payment.
Margerison was due to appear before the joint committee of public accounts and audit,which is chaired by Labor MP Julian Hill,to answer questions about procurement by Services Australia and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Robert served as government services minister and minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme from May 2019 to March 2021.
Hill said in a statement that Margerison’s lawyer had informed the committee that Margerison was now living overseas.
It is not known where Margerison is now,but his lawyer has been contacted for comment.
The MP said in a statement on behalf on the committee that he understood from Margerison’s lawyer that the businessman had “severed all ties with the country of Australia many weeks ago”.
“That Mr Margerison’s lawyer now claims he has left and severed all ties with Australia is a somewhat surprising turn of events indeed,” Hill said. “Mr Margerison’s whereabouts remains a matter of great mystery.”