The following article appeared in the Cairns Post - By Samuel Davis

Federal MP Warren Entsch doubles down in response to conflict of interest claims related to wife’s work

New questions have emerged regarding a Federal MP’s decision not to declare a conflict of interest in relation to his wife’s work with a business that received government funding.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has denied knowing that his wife, Yolonde Entsch, had received a contract to run workshops for an organisation that was the recipient of Federal government funding.

Warren Entsch has maintained that he "was not aware" of Yolonde's agreement to conduct workshops with training provider My Pathway before he announced the organisation had received $5 million in government funding alongside a Torres Strait land council to build seawalls in 2019.

Ms Entsch, who will contest the seat of Cairns as an LNP candidate in October’s state election, was also engaged by My Pathway to run face painting and “character building” workshops for children in the Torres Strait in March 2019.

However, the Federal politician insisted there was no connection between the funding announcement and his wife’s work.

“To suggest that the $5 million granted to the land council (and My Pathway) was somehow conditional on my wife running a school holiday program is simply ludicrous,” Mr Entsch said.

The report also referenced photos of Mr Entsch with workshop participants that “appear to have contradicted” claims he was unaware of his wife’s work.

Mr Entsch explained that his wife had earned the contract as a private contractor, known for her work running workshops in remote Indigenous communities.

“My understanding was she had been asked to do some work (for My Pathway) in Doomadgee some time before this, and it was an outstanding success,” he said.

“They then reached out to her to run a school holiday program (in the Torres Strait), which included face painting and other workshops.

“It was purely coincidental that the week she was there was when the redevelopment of Star of the Sea (aged care facility) was being opened, and I was invited toattend.

“I went, took some happy snaps with the kids doing the face painting, and then returned to Cairns.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli (centre) with LNP candidates Bree James (Barron River) and Yolonde Entsch (Cairns). Picture: FacebookMember for Cairns Michael

Healy criticised Mr Entsch for failing to declare conflicts of interest related to his wife, citing a lack of accountability.

“Once again, Warren Entsch is embroiled in reports of a conflict-of-interest scandal,” Mr Healy said.

“Yet again, the LNP MP tries to bully and bluster his way out of it.

“And he continues to blame everyone but himself. People expect their elected officials to be publicly accountable.

“By all reports, Entsch and the LNP have some serious questions to answer.”

Mr Entsch updated his Registry of Interests statement last Friday, removing his wife’s role as CEO of Wheels of Wellness.

“I am not her keeper,” he said. “She’s entitled to pursue her own work, and she has received awards for her efforts.”

When contacted, Yolonde Entsch declined to comment.