Christopher Pyne's EY job offer made while still minister

In a submission to a Senate inquiry on post-political jobs for ministers, Mark Stewart, defence industry partner for EY (formerly known as Ernst and Young), said he met Mr Pyne on April 8 to discuss Mr Pyne's plans for retirement after politics.

"At this meeting we discussed Mr Pyne's post-retirement plans, and his interest in utilising his experience as a politician and minister to assist a professional services firm grow their private sector defence industry business," Mr Stewart said.

Mr Stewart said the company decided Mr Pyne's 26 years as a politician would be beneficial to the company's defence industry practice as a consultant.

"After the election was called on 11 April 2019, EY made a formal offer to Mr Pyne to commence with EY as a consultant."

EY also provided a timeline, showing Mr Pyne accepted the job on April 20 and started on June 7, but the consultancy agreement only became public on June 26.

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Mr Stewart said Mr Pyne's duties included making defence industry clients "aware of EY when a request is made of him for a recommendation of a relevant professional services firm", advising EY's defence industry team on engaging with defence industry, and "attend[ing] initial meetings with private sector clients to introduce EY as a reputable provider of professional services".

The role also involves speaking at events representing the company, advising it on its growth strategy and providing advice on interpreting policy documents like the Defence White Paper.

"Consistent with our public statements on this matter, EY has not, and will not, seek that Mr Pyne lobby, advocate or have business meetings with members of the government, parliament, public service or defence force on any matters on which he has had official dealings as minister in his last 18 months in office," Mr Stewart said.