FIRB chair Brian Wilson steps aside from Carlyle Group role

The Foreign Investment Review Board chairman Brian Wilson has suspended his involvement as an adviser to private equity investment house The Carlyle Group after questions were raised about a potential conflict of interest.

He took up the appointment on September 5 and tried to alley concerns by agreeing to recuse himself from any decision relating to Carlyle.

2GB broadcaster Alan Jones was highly critical.

"To ensure there can be no question as to the integrity of Australia's foreign investment review system I have decided to suspend the commencement of my proposed role with The Carlyle Group until April 2017, when my term as part-time non-executive chairman of the FIRB expires," Mr Wilson said.