House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-24 Daily Xml

Contents

MINISTERIAL ADVISERS, CODE OF CONDUCT

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:46): Can the Premier advise whether all of those examples he has just given in his previous answer apply to the ministerial staff or not, and can he further advise which clauses in the code of ethics do not apply to ministerial staff?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:46): In my reading of the code of ethics, there are just the relatively limited clauses which are clearly—

Mr Marshall: Which ones?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Just the ones that refer to essentially the paid professional staff and their impartiality requirements. They are clearly only directed at those public servants who are in the Public Service proper. I am more than happy to take it on notice, but what is more alarming is that you are utterly unfamiliar with the fact that the code of ethics applies to your own ministerial staff.

Mr Gardner interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, I was familiar with the fact that it applied to our staff, and I know what the motivation was. The motivation was—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: There's a point of order—

Ms CHAPMAN: The Premier is attempting to debate this matter. He has indicated he will take it on notice. We will wait for the list.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I am afraid the deputy leader is correct. I did refer to the deputy leader as the attorney-general elect during the last election broadcast. I was wrong. The member for Davenport.