[Greens-Media] Richard Face charges put Carr Govt in hot seat

[Hans VanLeeuwen]

Richard Face charges put Carr Govt in hot seat
Media release - December 3, 2004

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier Carr to end years of delay
and introduce new guidelines for retiring Ministers, following
revelations in the Newcastle Herald that ex-Minister Richard Face is
facing criminal prosecution.
 
"We've waited two years for Carr's promised rules that prevent Ministers
parachuting straight into consultancies in the same area, and still
nothing is happening" Ms Rhiannon said.

"Premier Carr has moved quite quickly to set up an inquiry into curbing
the powers of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC); but
when it comes to cleaning up his own Government's act, he is dragging
the chain.
 
"The Premier is sitting on his hands, hoping this issue will go away.
This decade-old government no longer cares about accountability, or the
reputation of the Parliament and politicians.
 
"In its report on Mr Face, ICAC drew comparisons between the
professional conduct required by Members of Parliament and that required
of the legal and medical professions. 
 
"When will Premier Carr finally bring ministers and other
parliamentarians into line with the standards applying in the general
community?
 
"We've also waited 12 months for his promised reforms to the
ridiculously generous superannuation scheme for MPs. Again, Carr refuses
to take the hard decisions that will hurt his colleagues' hip pockets,"
Ms Rhiannon said. 
 

Hans van Leeuwen
Media Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon
Tel: (61 2) 9230 3551
Fax: (61 2) 9230 3550
Mob: 0425 310 562
hans.vanleeuwen at parliament.nsw.gov.au