Page 3715 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009
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Mr Barr said a number of times this morning that what he has said is entirely accurate and fair. I think it says a lot about Mr Barr’s sense of accuracy and fairness.
Mr Seselja: None of his colleagues do that, do they?
MR SMYTH: None of his colleagues have been as inventive. He said, “This is mere politics. This is opposition for opposition’s sake.” He went on to say this several times. He then talked about serious political debate. Well, the serious political debate he is concentrating on is, of course, the debate inside the ALP on the succession plan.
This is about misleading, respect for persons, and fair and honest dealings. We do not get that from Minister Barr. It really does raise the question whether the minister is up to the job. Ministers also have to set the standard and set the example, and this minister does not do that.
Mr Corbell played it down. He said, “It was just politics.” But it was not just politics. It was a total fabrication. There is absolutely no remorse here; there is absolutely no admission that they have got it wrong. It is quite clear from the amendment moved that, given his own defence of himself this morning, he has not made a case. Read the Hansard if you missed the debate this morning; Mr Barr said nothing. Mr Barr made no justification. Mr Barr could not point to one single thing that he was claiming that was right. Mr Barr could not make the case to avoid this censure. He should not avoid the censure. That is the problem with the minister
Mr Barr: It is not a censure, apparently. Are you speaking to the amendment?
MR SMYTH: I am speaking to the whole. You see, you do not know your rules. You speak, through the amendment, to the entire motion. You need to learn your rules before you interject. You show your ignorance. That is the problem with this minister. He shows his ignorance all too often.
He should have had the courage and the courtesy to come into this place this morning and admit the mistake, admit the fabrication, admit the falsehood that he broadcast, using ministerial letterhead, using the power of the authority that he gets from the warrant that he has from the Chief Minister. He did it, fully knowing his obligations under the ministerial code of conduct. The code states:
Ministers should ensure their personal conduct does not adversely affect their ability or the ability of other MLAs … public confidence in the integrity of the system of government or public sector …
This minister’s actions in fabricating this falsehood, broadcasting it and then attempting to defend it today simply show that he has no respect for the ministerial code of conduct. The code also states:
Ministers will ensure that their conduct does not bring discredit upon the Government or Territory.
As Mr Seselja said, this is a minister that has fallen. We saw it in relation to the Exhibition Park Corporation board. The minister was asked on radio—
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