Answers to Questions

Ministerial Behaviour

18 The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (24 August 2021). Will the Premier advise:

On December 3 2020, I asked the following question of the minister representing the premier, and raised concerns about the behaviour of the Minister for Environment and Water:

'Item 2.3 of the general standards of conduct under the Marshall Liberal government's Ministerial Code of Conduct reads:

Reputation—In the discharge of his or her public duties, a minister shall not dishonestly or wantonly and recklessly attack the reputation of any other person.

The document, of course, lays out processes for which the premier shall oversee any breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct. In my role as an advocate and serving those in my community, I have spoken up online and publicly for an animal welfare organisation in previous days, as have two other members at least of this parliament in the other place.

In response, we have all received from the Minister for Environment and Water, the Member for Black, David Speirs, communications which I would say go straight to a breach of 2.3, reputation, and indeed wantonly and recklessly have attacked the people of this organisation, with no procedural fairness or due process. In the course of my inquiries, many of the claims the minister has made to us have been proven to be patently false. My question to the premier is: what procedural fairness do you offer those whose reputations are attacked by ministers of your cabinet, and what redress for those who have their reputation damaged by ministers of the Marshall Liberal government cabinet will be afforded?'

The response I received indicated that 'the premier does not agree that the circumstances which gave rise to the honourable member's question involved any breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.' What were the processes taken to come to this conclusion and did they include a review of the complaints made about the minister, a review of correspondence about the minister and his behaviour, and did the premier or your department follow up with any stakeholders/constituents?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): The premier has advised he is satisfied that inquiries undertaken on his behalf justify his answer to the honourable member's question and he has nothing to add.