In a case of unfortunate timing, Senator Arthur Sinodinos is scheduled to be the guest of honour at a party fundraiser for the ACT Liberal Party on Wednesday night.
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An invitation to the $250-a-head dinner at a Canberra club "in honour of Senator The Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, the Assistant Treasurer" has been widely circulated among members of the local arm of the Liberal Party for weeks.
One branch member said the event was currently still planned to go ahead, despite the Assistant Treasurer stepping aside from the frontbench on Wednesday afternoon.
"It's still happening and he's still coming," he said.
Senator Sinodinos has stepped down while the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption investigates his involvement with Australian Water Holdings – a company associated with corrupt former Labor minister Eddie Obeid.
In Senate question time on Wednesday, Senator Sinodinos said he did not want the corruption inquiry to become a ''sideshow'' to the important work being undertaken by his colleagues.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in question time in the lower house that Senator Sinodinos had done the "right and decent thing".
Senator Sinodinos and the Canberra Liberals have been contacted for comment.
