The Opposition has called on the Prime Minister to sack assistant minister for manufacturing Senator Tim Ayres over the appointment of his former colleague to two government board positions in the Industry portfolio set to pay more than $300,000.
Mr Ayres has denied there was a conflict of interest and insisted Cabinet processes were followed for the appointment of his manufacturing union colleague Glenn Thompson to the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) board and Rail Industry Innovation Council last year.
The assistant minister was backed by the head of the Industry department, who said there was no clear evidence of a conflict.
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