Page 2350 - Week 08 - Thursday, 5 August 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
This is a very straight forward motion. We are seeking a one-month extension, which will give our committee time to consider the significant number of submissions we have received and will allow us to hold hearings, if we choose to do so.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee
Report 6
MS BURCH (Brindabella) (10.43): I present the following report:
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee—Report 6—Report on the Conduct of Mr Parton MLA, dated 5 August 2021, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
MR BRADDOCK (Yerrabi) (10.44), by leave: I move:
That the report be adopted.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (10.44): As it is the wish of the Speaker and the admin and procedure committee that I apologise here in the chamber, that is what I am doing right now. I apologise for being found to have breached the standards and, as a consequence, the code of conduct. It is an unconditional apology from me.
I would note that the commissioner has indicated that there was no intent on my behalf in regard to those breaches, and I am certainly supportive of that opinion. The commissioner indicated that my breach was based on a lack of understanding of the broadcast guidelines.
I do see that the report tabled today notes that the Speaker has written to a number of other non-Liberal MLAs regarding breaches of the broadcasting guidelines and requested that offending social media posts be removed. I also note that those instances involving non-Liberal MLAs did not lead to any referral to the standards commissioner.
At various points during this process, the commissioner also alluded to the fact that there may well be grounds to refer some other MLAs on this issue. I say that at this stage we will not be referring those other MLAs, because we think that they have more important things to spend their time on, but we certainly reserve the right to refer them at a later date.
I also note that the commissioner effectively dismissed both of the grounds of Ms Orr’s original complaint, and that his ruling is based around the specific broadcast guideline which states that the only purpose for MLAs to reproduce Assembly on Demand footage is as a fair and accurate representation of proceedings.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video