Stuart Robert meeting with company before negotiations ‘contrary to probity protocols’, auditor general says

Audit office criticises how home affairs handled tender process for multimillion-dollar contract but makes no finding against former minister

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

The former Morrison government minister Stuart Robert met with a preferred tenderer for a home affairs contract before contract negotiations began, “contrary to the probity plan and protocols”, the auditor general has found.

Robert’s meeting with the preferred tenderer for a new system to help streamline visas and security clearances was mentioned in a report tabled to the parliament on Wednesday that made no finding against him.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup