Federal government staffer Jack Walker has quit the office of Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, just days after being released from a Malaysian jail in the so-called Budgie Nine debacle.
SBS News understands Mr Walker, 26, handed in his resignation Saturday evening.
He was one of nine Australian men who were arrested after stripping down to their swimwear emblazoned in the Malaysian flag during last week’s Grand Prix in Sepang won by Australian Daniel Ricciardo. They were also copying his unique style of celebrating by drinking alcohol out of a shoe.
Their antics, naked except for their Malaysian flag-printed budgie smugglers, infuriated Malaysian authorities and many citizens of the socially conservative nation. The men, all in their 20s, were arrested and pleaded guilty to public nuisance charges.
After being held in jail for four days, Judge Harith Sham did not convict or fine the nine and they were free to leave.
Mr Walker was an adviser to Mr Pyne in his portfolio of Defence Industry, which oversees airforce and navy procurement contracts worth tens of billions of dollars.
Mr Pyne told SBS News: "Jack Walker has today offered me his resignation and I have accepted it.
"Jack indicated to me his deep regret for causing any embarrassment to the Government and apologised," the statement said.
"One lapse of judgement does not detract from the fact that Jack has been an outstanding staff member, a significant contributor to my office since late 2013 and I believe he will have a bright future."
On Friday Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Walker “needs to have a very hard look at himself” and should be “considering his future carefully”.
The men, all in their 20s, spent four days in a cramped cell but were released without conviction by the judge, after they apologised for hurting the feelings of the Malaysian people in “a moment of folly”.
Mr Turnbull said he thought "the Malaysian authorities were very lenient”.
"I think the young Australian men were very repentant. But they do need to reflect very seriously on their conduct.”
