Paul Harriss

During and after the TT article, Mr Harriss, Independent MLC, and Ta Ann, I researched the matter for myself.

I then wrote to Paul Harriss, about his Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest* . Receiving no answer, I followed it with an email to Sue Smith, the President of the Legislative Council. Her Executive Officer acknowledged receipt, but I have had no further reply.

My concerns were that under the Parliamentary (Disclosure of Interests) Act 1996**, it is possible that contempts of Parliament occurred when the Member for Huon:

1. Failed to lodge his pecuniary disclosure forms on or by the required day in 2006, 2007 and possibly again in 2008.

2. (Ed: Garry Stannus’ second point of concern has been withdrawn because of differences of opinion over legal definitions, following legal advice. Contact Garry if you want further information, at garrystannus@hotmail.com)

I also have concerns as to the appropriateness of his having been a member of the Legislative Council Sessional Committee (Government Administration A) which inquired into the Public Native Forests Transition. [Public Native Forests Transition] Standing and Sessional Orders (174 and 16 respectively) make it clear that membership is prohibited where a member has a direct pecuniary interest in an inquiry.

Of further concern to me is:

3. The fact that Paul Harriss had twice declared a pecuniary interest (financial and travel benefits) in Ta Ann Tasmania Pty Ltd and yet did participate as a member in that Committee, which seems contrary to Standing and Sessional Orders mentioned, and

4. That on 27 May 2011 – Hobart, as a member of that committee, he asked questions of and heard evidence from David Ridley, the Director of Ta Ann Tasmania, the source of his disclosed pecuniary interests.

I found no mention in the Hearing records, that Paul Harriss declared to the Legislative Council Committee his pecuniary interests in the company about to be examined by himself and his fellow committee members.

5. This apparent ‘failure to declare’ is compounded by the fact that not only did David Ridley’s company pay travel, accommodation and meal costs on the Member’s recent trip, but that Paul Harriss was accompanied by, or while overseas, met with, the Ta Ann Tasmania Director David Ridley, himself.

Since on 27 May 2011, the end of the financial year had not yet been reached, the details of the travel contributions had not yet been disclosed to the Parliament. That is of course to be expected, but that would seem to add to the necessity of declaring the interests to the Committee.

The issue of Paul Harriss’s further participation in Parliamentary proceedings which relate to Ta Ann has been brought into question and the Member for Huon has announced that, following discussions with the Council’s Clerks, he felt that he was able to participate in future matters.

Is the giving of such advice the province of the Clerk of the Legislative Council, or that of the President?

I would hope that the Privileges Committee could investigate the above concerns, in particular why $1000 should be given to and accepted by a Member of Parliament without any reason being given publicly as to why the ‘gift’ was made.

If the Upper House avoids investigating this issue, then the Premier herself has a role to play, as the Member charged with the job of administering the Parliamentary (Disclosure of Interests) Act 1996.

I have also compiled a lengthy document which lays out the details referred to above. Copies can be obtained, via email, at garrystannus@hotmail.com

I believe that I have written the truth, and having tried to put the matter to both Paul Harriss and then to the President of the Legislative Council, without response. I raise the matter here, on the Tasmanian Times, in the public interest.

*Download Paul Harris disclosures:

Paul Harriss’ disclosure of pecuniary interests (2007-08)
Mar7_P_Harriss_Pecuniary_Interests_Register_Excerpt_2011_ATTACH1.pdf

Paul Harriss’ disclosure of pecuniary interests (2010-11)
Mar7_P_Harriss_Pecuniary_Interests_Register_Excerpt_2008_ATTACH2.pdf

**Excerpt from Legislative Council and House of Assembly Standing Orders
Mar7__LegCo_HoA_Standing_Orders_Excerpts_ATTACH3.pdf

• Ta Ann Tasmania: find out what the loggers from Sarawak are doing in Tasmanian Forests

A once only opportunity to hear from two key campaigners on Ta Ann and learn about this company’s links to corruption, human rights abuses and its lies to customers.

Adam Burling is a staffer with Senator Bob Brown and has worked closely with individuals and groups campaigning for democratic reform and native rights in Sarawak. Adam will talk about the corruption in Sarawak, the effects on the displacement of hundreds of thousands of indigenous people and the loss of orang-utan habitat caused by companies such as Ta Ann.

Jenny Weber is the media spokesperson for the Huon Valley Environment Centre (http://www.huon.org) and has exposed Ta Ann’s lies to its markets in Japan about the source of its wood. Jenny will talk about her trip to Japan, the markets campaign and her work on documenting Ta Ann’s impact on Tasmania’s High Conservation Value (HCV) forests.

Join an informal discussion about the implications of Ta Ann’s operations in Tasmania. Ta Ann is the largest destroyers of native forests worldwide and the people behind one of Malaysia’s largest logging and palm oil companies.

Where: Fresh on Charles – 178 Charles St Launceston
When: 6pm-9pm