Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is the latest figure to be revealed in the Panama Papers saga, sending the Australian media into a frenzy.
According to a report by The Australian Financial Review, the register shows the PM was a former director of British Islands company Star Technology Service, which was incorporated by Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
In the 1990s Mr Turnbull, together with former NSW premier Neville Wran, joined the board of Star Mining NL, an Australian-listed company, with plans to develop a $20 billion Siberian gold mine.
However, according to Mr Turnbull’s spokesman, there is no suggestion the politician acted improperly during his time as director.
“As the article acknowledged, there is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever. There is nothing new there,” said Mr Turnbull on Thursday.
“Let me say to you that the company in which Neville Wran and I were directors was an Australian-listed company and had it made any profits – which it did not, regrettably – it certainly would have paid tax in Australia – obviously you haven’t studied the accounts of the company concerned.”
Both Mr Turnbull and Mr Wran resigned from the board in September 1995, and soon after stepped down from Star Technology based on work commitments Down Under.
Despite his denial of any wrongdoing, opposition leader Bill Shorten is adamant the PM has “serious matters to answer”.
“I think it is incumbent upon him to do so fully,” said Mr Shorten.
“I do not believe that what he said this morning [Thursday 12 May, 2016] is a full explanation.
“But, to be fair, Mr Turnbull should have the opportunity to answer the questions, to explain what he knows, what the extent of his involvement is, and I don’t intend to say any more until that happens.”
While thousands of names were made public on Monday, the information regarding Star Technology Services is only accessible by those working with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
