Former local government minister John Bowler, who was sacked from cabinet and forced from the Labor Party over his dealings with Julian Grill, says he expects to continue in Parliament as a house committee investigates his actions this week.
Mr Bowler was sacked last month during Corruption and Crime Commission public hearings into the lobbying activities of disgraced former premier Brian Burke and his business partner, Mr Grill.
The CCC was told Mr Bowler, when a backbencher, leaked a confidential committee report to Mr Grill, then made changes to it based on feedback from Mr Grill's mining company client, Precious Metals Australia.
The altered report was then used to help PMA win a $20 million lawsuit against Swiss-based mining company Xstrata.
The CCC also accused Mr Bowler of wrongdoing in his role as resources minister.
Now an Independent MP, Mr Bowler will this week face a parliamentary committee inquiry into his actions. The committee could make disciplinary recommendations to the house if it finds Mr Bowler in contempt of parliament.
Penalties could include a censure, a fine, or even expulsion from the parliament.
"I expect to continue on in parliament," Mr Bowler told ABC radio.
"Everyone makes one mistake and as I said, it was never for personal gain. But that will be up to the privileges committee.
"I do hope to rebuild my reputation, it's important to me and I think most Australians believe in a fair go, it's the Australian way, and if we kicked people every time they were down for one mistake we wouldn't be the nation we are."
Mr Bowler has previously conceded Mr Grill, his friend for decades, had exploited their relationship.
But Mr Bowler today said he still considered Mr Grill a friend.
"I don't change my friends, never have, never will," Mr Bowler said
He said he had met with Mr Grill since the CCC revelations, but would not reveal what they pair spoke about.
