Page 2107 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 15 August 2006
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two ministers. Both ministers, Minister Corbell and Minister Gallagher, clearly are in breach of this code. Either they should either be dismissed or they should resign.
When we take into account the various precedents, the Chief Minister’s code, and everything he has had to say about the code and about accountable, open government—government that abides by the laws, standards and conventions—we realise that there is no other honourable course of action. It is a disgrace that those two ministers remain in their ministerial roles.
A number of members are probably happy with the vote on school closures taken at the conference by these ministers. However, both of them then said, “We did not really mean it. That is not what we think. We had to do that because of the factions.” There are a few instances of people who have gone against their factions and who have stood by things like ministerial codes or by what they think. I am sure that they said, “Sorry, faction, we do not agree with you.” There is a fair bit of that in politics and people stand up for their convictions, but they did not here. Despite what these ministers have said they voted with a faction against a clear cabinet decision taken seven weeks earlier.
I think that reveals the hypocrisy of the Stanhope government. It has chosen not to apply its own code of conduct to these two ministers. Members probably appreciate why that is the case but it does not excuse the fact that it is wrong. It goes against the government’s own code of conduct and what the Chief Minister stipulated, put down in writing and said publicly. As a result these two ministers lack any integrity. It is obvious that they and the government will try to tough this out but there can be no ifs or buts on this issue. It could not be clearer: the loser in this farce is the community.
The Chief Minister failed to act by applying his own code of conduct to these two ministers. He did not apply his own code of conduct, which strikes at the heart of our political system. The government’s inaction in relation to these two ministers generates cynicism in the community towards the Assembly and our system of government. What is the point in having a code of conduct? What is the point of stipulating rules that govern us and govern ministers if the government does not abide by them?
If Ministers Gallagher and Corbell have any understanding of or respect for our Westminster traditions they should resign. The ministerial code of conduct they signed on becoming ministers requires them to do the honourable thing by this Assembly and by the community, that is, to resign. The fact that they remain in their position shows the Stanhope government’s complete contempt for our parliamentary traditions and processes. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (11.09): I do not support this motion and I would like to outline my reasons for not doing so. It is a contradiction in terms to condemn two ministers for voting for a motion to place a moratorium on school closures that would enable a proper examination of issues facing public education in the ACT. If we believed the information coming out of the Liberal Party at the moment, I would have thought that would have been the first thing it wanted members of the Labor Party, and especially ministers, to do.
To me it seems to be a sensible thing to do. I commend the five ALP government members who supported Mr Berry’s motion at the Labor Party conference. However, it
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