There is growing pressure on the Tasmanian Government to explain how the Minister for Children avoided breaching the MPs’ code of conduct when she released confidential information about a political rival.
The former Children’s Commissioner Paul Mason is standing against Lin Thorp in the May election for the Upper House seat of Rumney.
The code of conduct says it is improper for MPs to use confidential information for personal advantage.
The Independent member for Huon Paul Harriss believes it was extremely inappropriate for Ms Thorp to reveal on radio that Mr Mason finished fourth out of five candidates for his job.
“I just can’t understand for a fleeting moment how the Government doesn’t think that this is not a breach,” he said.
Earlier on Tasmanian Times: Lin Thorp: What Labor said. What Lara says. What Cassy doesn’t say.
• Nick McKim
THORP APOLOGY NECESSARY
Its Gone on Too Long – Clear the Air & Put the Focus Back on Business
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
The Tasmanian Greens today said that Labor Minister Lin Thorp should admit that revealing details of fellow Rumney candidate Paul Mason’s job selection process was a mistake, and issue an apology.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that such a move would allow the air to be cleared, and public debate re-focussed onto important public policy issues such as the state budget challenge coming down the line.
“People from all walks of life make mistakes, that is part of being human. But it is better to face up to those mistakes and try to make things right as soon as possible,” Mr McKim said.
“Those of us in public office also have a responsibility to be accountable, and in this case Ms Thorp has the opportunity to set an example by admitting a mistake and apologising for it.”
“We have consistently argued that not breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct in itself does not guarantee that a mistake or wrong-doing has not occurred.”
“Simple courtesy and fair play is always the best public policy,” Mr McKim said.
Friday: ABC News
Transcript
The Liberals have written to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, asking him to investigate the behaviour of the state’s Childrens Minister, Lin Thorp.
The Premier, Lara Giddings, says she has been told her department received oral advice from the Solicitor-General that Lin Thorp did not breach the code of conduct for MPs when she released confidential information about a political rival.
Political analyst Richard Herr told the ABC that Ms Giddings should have got her advice from the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, not the Solicitor-General.
The deputy Liberal leader, Jeremy Rockliffe, says the Liberal leader, Will Hodgman, has now requested the Commissioner to investigate the matter.
“We believe very strongly that Minister Thorp has behaved unethically and we believe also that Lara Giddings, the Premier, has not held her minister to account. She keeps defending her minister when this really requires greater scrutiny.”
