Liberal Party Code of Conduct

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (16:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council regarding the Liberal Party of Australia's code of conduct.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: The Liberal Party of Australia's code of conduct states that it applies to all state and territory divisions of the Liberal Party. I will quote a portion of it:

…this code applies to all staff, contractors, members, volunteers and representatives of the LPA.

My question to the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council is: does this code of conduct apply to Liberal members in this parliament and, if not, why not?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (16:31): I will need to take that on notice. I am not sure whether I actually have responsibility for answering questions in relation to the organisation of the Liberal Party in relation to matters that I have ministerial responsibility for in this house. I could indicate an unwillingness to respond to that particular issue, but I would need to have a look.

My recollection is that that has only just been recently endorsed by the federal executive or the federal council of the party at the federal level. My recollection of the early discussions—and I have not been involved; I am not a member of the federal executive of the party—is that the process is related to the groups that were outlined by the member. I assume he was quoting from a media article or something. I don't believe they directly relate to members of parliament in terms of allegations from one member of parliament to another member of parliament.

That is my recollection. If I have anything further and useful to add, and if I feel disposed to doing so, I will do so. But, as I said, I don't believe I have ministerial responsibility in this chamber for process issues for the Liberal Party organisation.