LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF CONDUCT

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:08): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations questions in relation to the mandatory code of conduct for council members.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Earlier today, I asked the minister whether misuse of a taxpayer-funded mobile phone would be contrary to the draft mandatory code of conduct released yesterday. The minister said that whether it was contrary to the code would depend on the policies of the relevant council. The mandatory code draft reads, in relation to misuse of council resources, 3.14:

Council members are to ensure that Council resources are used effectively and prudently and solely in the public interest.

Clause 3.15 reads:

Council members are not to use Council resources, including services of Council staff, for private purposes, unless legally or properly authorised to do so, and payments are made where appropriate.

My questions are:

1. Can the minister confirm his view that use of a ratepayer-funded mobile phone for political campaign purposes is solely in the public interest and is therefore consistent with clause 3.14?

2. Can the minister confirm his view that use of a ratepayer-funded mobile phone for political campaign purposes can be authorised by councils, consistent with clause 3.15?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:09): This arose out of an attack on the Mayor of Prospect. I have been informed that the texts were from a private phone and were not paid for by the Prospect City Council. So, once again the sleaze from this opposition, the actual baseless allegations in an effort to slander a very well-respected mayor, are just outrageous. There was no basis to make that report. Rachel Sanderson, the MP for Adelaide, used her taxpayer-funded newsletter to endorse one particular Liberal candidate. Where was all that? Where was your concern about taxpayers' money then? You are a hypocrite. Opposition members are hypocrites, and that is as far as I am going to take this whole disgraceful exercise of the opposition.