Liberal MP Stuart Robert attempted to intimidate public servants following media allegations of the former minister’s dealings with a consulting firm, parliament has heard.

The allegations date back to when the coalition government was in power and his tenure as a government backbencher and later as a minister.

Mr Robert was a backbencher in 2017 and 2018 and was appointed assistant treasurer in 2018 and then minister for the NDIS and government services in 2019.

The Nine newspapers reported on Thursday consulting company Synergy 360, owned by a friend of Mr Robert, claimed in leaked documents the minister met the firm about government contracts.

NDIS and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten, who last month ordered several government departments to look into the contracts, said the revelations were concerning.

Parliament was told investigations had shown one of Synergy’s clients Infosys had been awarded four contracts totalling $274 million to upgrade payment software within the Department of Human Services.

Talking about the allegations in parliament on Thursday, Mr Shorten revealed public servants had been intimidated.

“I remind members of parliament and the member for Fadden (Mr Robert) after an unfortunate development this morning, please come through my office if you have any requests of the relevant agencies,” Mr Shorten told parliament.

“Do not do what you did this morning and inappropriately task and pressure public servants who are no longer your ministerial responsibility.”

Last month, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald cited leaked emails to allege Mr Robert had helped Synergy 360 in 2017 and 2018 sign corporate clients to help it navigate the public service and political system and meet key decision-makers.

Mr Robert last month rejected the allegations in parliament, labelling them as innuendo.

“With respect to when I was a minister, years later, all ministers know the process for procurement,” he said.

– AAP