Page 2779 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016
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MADAM SPEAKER: Yes.
Ms Burch: I have now written to you twice with a complaint seeking a referral to the Commissioner for Standards. This matter is serious and this matter is urgent. As this is the last sitting day, can you provide advice on whether you have referred this matter? If not, will you make your decision and advise the Assembly before the end of today’s sitting?
MADAM SPEAKER: I will make my decisions. I do note that I received a letter from you at 6.15 last night when I had 20-odd people in my office and I was going to an event that was hosted by me. I have sought some advice, not all of which I have received. I will make my decision in accordance with the procedure outlined in continuing resolution 5AA and the people concerned will be notified confidentially.
It has attempted to be the practice of this place that matters arising out of reference to complaints against the code of conduct, if they are referred to the Commissioner for Standards, be dealt with essentially confidentially and that the members—that the complainant and the respondent—would be notified. That would then be in the hands of the commissioner.
I had no intention of making a statement to the chamber on this matter simply because the matter is not resolved. I have not made a decision. I have not received all the advice that I need in order to make a decision. As has been the case on two other occasions when there have been matters referred to the commissioner, I have not made statements because it is a matter for the commissioner and not for this place.
Mr Barr: How did they get into the media, then?
MADAM SPEAKER: If you would like to make a statement—do not sit there and ask me questions while sitting down.
Ms Burch: Just a point of clarification, you made comment that those making the complaint and those being complained about were treated in confidence. I refer to a matter in an earlier part of this year where it was in the public domain before the person who was being complained about—
MADAM SPEAKER: As is the current case. On that subject, I am not quite sure, but I will treat this as a question on notice, actually. I was somewhat expecting a question on notice on this. So I will treat it as a question on notice, although question time has finished. As the questioner would know, the questioner raised with me the protocol for this on—no, actually, I cannot do that, because that would reveal the deliberations of an Assembly committee.
It is my understanding, and it has been my desire, that these matters be dealt with confidentially and that this matter would not become publicly known until it was resolved. That is the way I have handled it. There has never been any release of material by my office or the Clerk’s office in relation to these matters, except to the commissioner. When the commissioner has reported, at that point it goes to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure for consideration. Then the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure reports to this place.
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