Federal MP Warren Entsch has apologised for failing to declare thousands of dollars' worth of free luxury accommodation after the ABC queried his stay at a five-star resort in North Queensland.
Late on Wednesday, the Leichhardt MP updated his parliamentary register of interests confirming he received free flights and two nights' accommodation at the more than $1,000-a-night Mount Mulligan Lodge, west of Cairns, in May last year.
Parliamentary rules require MPs to declare, within 28 days, the receipt of any sponsored travel or hospitality where the value exceeds $300.
The update, which came nearly a year late, occurred after the ABC sent questions to the Liberal Party politician asking why he had accepted flights and accommodation at the resort which is owned by a major north Queensland tourism operator.
Mr Entsch responded saying: "Clearly this was an oversight, for that I apologise. I appreciate you trawling through my records and bringing it to my attention."
He said he would be amending his register of interests at the earliest opportunity.
In the update to his register he listed the accommodation as having occurred from May 18 to 20 last year at a cost of $1,600 for travel to the lodge and for two nights' stay at a cost of $2,500.
Entsch called lodge 'stunning'
"I was invited to Mount Mulligan Lodge in relation to their tourism product,'' Mr Entsch said in his declaration.
The lodge is part of the Northern Escape collection of accommodation venues owned by the Morris Group – a highly successful family business that describes itself as focusing on allowing travellers to experience the unique natural beauty of northern Australian in its purest form.
Late last year, Mr Entsch was reported as telling a Cairns magazine the lodge was his favourite "staycation" destination in North Queensland.
"It's absolutely stunning and the food is divine,'' he said.
Mr Entsch's history with Morris Group owned companies
The Morris Group owns numerous other tourism assets in north Queensland including resorts in the Daintree and on Orpheus Island, the Ville in Townsville, luxury yacht charter at Port Douglas and charter business Nautilus Aviation.
Mr Entsch has been a vocal supporter of Nautilus Aviation, regularly calling for their helicopters to be used by the Queensland government for emergency service work. The company provides flights to and from Mount Mulligan resort for guests.
In federal parliament in 2018, Mr Entsch attacked Queensland's then fire and emergency services minister Craig Crawford for not engaging the helicopter services of Nautilus for use during emergencies.
He said Mr Crawford would have "blood on their hands" over the refusal and that the Queensland government was spending millions on bringing in helicopters from Brisbane for rescue work.
"Serious questions need to be asked about Mr Crawford's conduct," Mr Entsch said.
"Should we just let this body count continue to rise under his watch?"
Mr Entsch denied there was any conflict of interest in relation to his advocacy of Nautilus for emergency service work, saying the company was an outstanding organisation and he stood by his advocacy of them and all local business.
He said it should be noted that it was ridiculous to suggest that, as a Liberal member of federal parliament, he would have any influence over state Labor ministers in relation to the granting of government contracts.
Mr Crawford at the time vigorously denied Mr Entsch's allegations saying he had no say over the air contracts and described it as a gutter tactic.
'No politician should think they are above the rules'
This week Mr Crawford attacked Mr Entsch for failing to declare the stay at Mount Mulligan Lodge, saying the MP "appeared to be a serial offender when it comes to failing to properly declare his register of interests".
"No politician should think they are above the rules," Mr Crawford said.
"Other federal MPs know they have to declare gifts above $300.
Northern Escape and the Morris Group have been contacted for comment about Mr Entsch's stay.
The ABC does not suggest Northern Escapes or Nautilus or its related business have acted inappropriately in providing Mr Entsch with the hospitality and travel. The obligation is on politicians to declare gifts or hospitality they receive.
More declarations made
This trip wasn't the only update Mr Entsch made to his register on May 3.
Last week, the ABC also asked Mr Entsch why he and his wife Yolonde's membership of the Qantas Chairman's Lounge and Virgin Beyond Lounge were not disclosed on his register.
In his update on May 3, he declared these memberships as well as his travel to India as a member of the Global Executive Tuberculosis Caucus and as co-chair of the Asia Pacific Caucus for Tuberculosis for him to chair the Asia Pacific Conference in New Delhi.
He listed the total cost of the trip to India as $7,574.
It's the second time in the past two months that Mr Entsch has updated his register after being questioned by the ABC.
In March, Mr Entsch updated his register to declare an AirBnB business run by his wife for the past four-and-a-half years after the ABC queried it not being previously disclosed.
He denied he had been required to declare the AirBnB, which operates under the farmhouse he owns west of Cairns.
He said it had already been declared under his wife's company, which ran the business.
Ms Entsch in March was announced as the Liberal National Party's new candidate for the state seat of Cairns.
