Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Local Government Code of Conduct LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF CONDUCT The Hon. S.G. WADE Legislative Council LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF CONDUCT The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question relating to local government codes of conduct. Leave granted. The Hon. S.G. WADE Legislative Council The Hon. S.G. WADE: On 8 November 2011, the Ombudsman provided a report to the Legislative Council on his investigation into Charles Sturt council. Among dozens of recommendations for reform and possible disciplinary action, the Ombudsman made the following comment in relation to the ALP pledge: On the face of the wording of the pledge, I am unable to escape the conclusion that the 12 ALP councillors had pledged not to be disloyal to the ALP and not to infringe the state platform. Doing so could potentially result in charges being laid against them. The pledge is required of all local Labor Party members, including members of parliament. My questions are: 1.	Does the minister find it acceptable for elected members of local government to swear allegiance to an external entity above the interests of the council of which they are a member or the constituency they serve? 2.	Would the minister be comfortable with elected members swearing allegiance to uphold the interests of a corporate entity, a lobby group or other organisation before the interests of the council of which they are a member or the constituency they serve? The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:44): I thank the member for his very important question. First of all, I would like to make it quite clear that when a person is elected to council their first obligation, as an elected member, would be to that council. The government welcomes the report and the Ombudsman's findings. There was no evidence to support the allegation that any member of government acted inappropriately. The government recognises that the Ombudsman has raised issues concerning potential conflicts of interest for councillors and the need for higher standards in this regard. The government will consider the Ombudsman's recommendations to the proposed amendments to the law regarding register of interest, conflict of interest, code of conduct and valuation of community land, in due course.