Brotherly love (2)

What Rene reckons:

Media Release

RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Monday February 13, 2006

Lennon’s failure to disclose is a Contempt of Parliament as well as breach of Code of Conduct

Leader of the State Opposition Rene Hidding said today that Premier Lennon’s failure to disclose that his brother owned a company that has received numerous government contracts under his direct Ministerial responsibility was a Contempt of Parliament as well as a breach of the Government’s Code of Conduct.

“The Parliamentary (Disclosure of Interests) Act 1996, Section 24, stipulates that a Member is guilty of contempt of Parliament if the member fails to disclose any information,” Mr Hidding said.

“The Act further stipulates that in addition to any punishment given for contempt of Parliament, the Member may also be admonished, be fined up to $10,000 or be suspended from Parliament for any period.

“As Minister directly responsible for areas that involved his brother’s company consistently receiving government contracts, Premier Lennon should have disclosed this under Part I of his Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests in the same way that fellow Minister Steve Kons discloses matters relating to his parents under this part.

“If it is good enough for Minister Kons to be upfront about relevant dealings with his relatives why is wasn’t it good enough for the Premier?

“I call on the Premier to today explain to the Tasmanian public why he did not disclose in his Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests, dealings with his brother in areas under his Ministerial responsibility and to answer the outstanding questions relating to his involvement in discussions and communications surrounding contracts granted to his brother’s company.”