Nationals MP Andrew Broad quits Morrison ministry amid 'sugar baby' scandal

A Federal MP has quit as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister amid claims he used a "sugar daddy" website to meet women while overseas on government business.

Nationals MP Andrew Broad resigned after reports surfaced in the New Idea magazine.

A woman claiming to have received text messages from Victorian-based Mr Broad alleges she met him at a restaurant in Hong Kong after exchanging messages.

The Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack issued a statement this morning, saying he had accepted Mr Broad's resignation as Assistant Minister “due to the nature of the allegations”.

Mr Broad will continue to serve as an MP for the electorate in Mallee, which takes in the Victorian city of Mildura.

Mr McCormack would not comment further as "the matter may also be subject to future investigation".

New Idea quotes Mr Broad as saying: "I have been advised that the person making the allegation may have engaged in criminal activity. This matter has been reported to the Australian Federal Police and I will not be making any further comment."

The Australian Federal Police this afternoon confirmed it had received the referral but found no offence had been committed. 

"The AFP can confirm it received a referral from Andrew Broad MP on 8 November 2018, and assessed the information provided," a statement read. 

"No applicable offences under Australian law have been identified.

"No further comment will be made at this time."

9News is not suggesting the allegations relating to Mr Broad are true, merely that they have been made.

9News has reached out to Mr Broad for comment.

Mr Broad made headlines as the first Federal Nationals MP to publicly call for former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce to quit over his relationship with former staffer Vikki Campion.