Page 3641 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009
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the time made an assurance that it would apply a rigorous code. At the time the Chief Minister emphasised that the values of fairness, openness and responsibility were the defining factors of his revised code. Back in 2004, the Chief Minister was adamant when he said:
The government does not intend to simply adopt a code and think nothing more of it.
He went on to say—and I remind you, Mr Barr:
I consider the principles and standards set out in the code apply each day a minister is in office and are relevant to each decision he or she makes. The government will not back away from the code when it suits: we will stand by it and uphold it and uphold its values.
Chief Minister and members of the government, we are waiting for you to uphold your own code of conduct. Could it be that this government, as we mentioned before, have been around for too long? Have they forgotten—they obviously have—what they have signed up to? The general obligations, as we have stated before, in the code of conduct are about respect for the law and the system of government; respect for persons; integrity, accountability and honesty; diligence; and economy and efficiency.
I would like to focus again on the issues that Mr Barr has so badly neglected. Respect for persons:
Ministers will treat other Members of the Legislative Assembly, members of the public and other officials honestly and fairly, with proper regard for their personal dignity, rights, entitlements, duties and obligations, and should at all times act responsively in the performance of their public duties.
Public references to individuals:
In the discharge of his or her public duties, a Minister will not—
I say to Minister Barr—
dishonestly or recklessly attack the reputation of any other person.
Integrity:
Ministers will at all times seek to advance the common good of the community that they serve, in recognition that public office involves a public trust. In particular, Ministers will ensure that their official powers or position are not used improperly for personal advantage, and that any conflict between personal interests and public duty which may arise is resolved in favour of the public interest. Ministers are to ensure that publicly funded publicity that they arrange or approve is relative to Government responsibilities and is not party political in tone.
Contrast this, Mr Speaker, with what Mr Barr tabled in the ACT Assembly on Tuesday, 18 August 2009 in a ministerial response to the Non-Government Schools Education Council. The response was dated 28 July and included this statement:
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