Mr Billson announced his retirement from Parliament in November 2015,after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dumped him from the frontbench,but officially stayed on until the election was called the following May.
However Mr Billson took up his paid part-time role as executive chairman and independent director of the Franchise Council of Australia in March and accepted an initial $6250 payment in April. He did not disclose the job or the payment on Parliament's register of interests,as required under the rules.
Labor called for the inquiry to examine whether Mr Billson’s conduct as an MP was influenced by the payments he received from the FCA or whether he advocated for or sought to advance the interests of the lobby group.
Mr Billson also revealed to the committee he had received payment for the provision of"advisor services"through Agile Advisory,a firm of which he was the founder and sole director - payments he also failed to disclose.
In a submission to the inquiry,Mr Billson said his failure to update the register with all these details was an"administrative error and oversight". In a letter to the Speaker,he apologised for"the discourtesy to the House this represents".
The committee accepted this explanation and found there was no evidence to support a finding of deliberate contempt.