Mettam demands ‘fulsome’ explanation over WA Labor MP’s New York trip

Deputy Liberal leader Libby Mettam says questions remain over Labor MP Jagadish Krishnan’s gift and travel disclosures following a trip to New York in 2024 where he allegedly secured a $1 million loan from a wealthy US banker for his wife’s business. American businessman Kannan Amalraj and his company, Kenyan Consulting LLC, is suing Krishnan in a New Jersey court for non-payment of that loan that he claimed had a one-year term. Deputy Liberal Leader Libby Mettam. Hamish HastieKrishnan has vowed to “vigorously” fight Amalraj’s lawsuit, claiming the deal signed outlined a nine-year repayment term, and is countersuing Amalraj in the WA Supreme Court for defamation over emails Amalraj sent to Krishnan’s colleagues, including Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, earlier this year detailing their financial dispute. Amalraj claimed he spent about $US5000 on accommodation, transport and a Hudson River dinner cruise for Krishnan. None of those expenses appeared in Krishnan’s parliamentary disclosure register. On Monday, Mettam called on Krishnan and WA Premier Roger Cook to provide a “fulsome and transparent” response. Riverton MLA Jagadish Krishnan addresses media outside his electorate office on Thursday. My personal declarations have been done appropriately. I’ve done the appropriate thing,” he said last week. He declined to go any further into his declarations because they were connected to a live legal matter. Krishnan said the trip was private, not parliamentary, and he was assisting his wife. The loan was sent to Codd Technologies, whose sole shareholder and director is Krishnan’s wife Yaamini Jagadish. The Members of Parliament (Financial Disclosures) Act 1992 mandates that a member “shall disclose gifts received”, if they are valued at $500 or more. They must also disclose any financial contribution to travel, unless it “was made in the ordinary course of any trade, profession or vocation of the member”. Krishnan resigned from all director roles in his related businesses when he entered politics and remains only a sole shareholder in his family company, Srishanna Pty Ltd. Srishanna was a major shareholder of Spectrum Health Group, a large network of GP clinics cofounded by Krishnan. Spectrum Health was sold in a multimillion-dollar deal last week. Last year, Krishnan said he had stepped back from the day-to-day activities of his business, but would sometimes assist his wife when she had queries. Responding to Krishnan’s situation, Centre for Public Integrity director Geoffrey Watson said MPs should regard that role as their fulltime employment and give it their full commitment. “They’re effectively an employee of the people of Western Australia,” he said “You can have a minor business on the side that does not divert their attention from their job as a parliamentarian.” Krishnan was approached for further comment on Monday.