Australia’s Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon Resigns

Australia’s Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has resigned following a controversy that involved undeclared gifts as well as his involvement in meetings between his brother’s company and U.S. health giant Humana, Inc.

Fitzgibbon had been criticized in the past for his failure to disclose gifts and trips he received from business associates and on Thursday he issued a letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in which he stated he had not “entirely conformed with your Ministerial Code of Conduct.”

While never admitting any direct involvement with the meetings between his brother’s company, NIB Holdings, and Humana, Fitzgibbon did acknowledge “I have learned that one meeting between the parties was held in my ministerial office. Further, I understand that members of my staff sat in on a number of meetings.”

Fitzgibbon becomes the minister to leave the Labor government since it took power in November 2007.

Rudd accepted the resignation, calling it “the right thing to do” and is expected to announce a replacement shortly.

Click here for more World News