[Greens-Media] Members not responsible

[Manderson, Roland]

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey Media Release

Friday 26 Aug 2005 


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Members not responsible
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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey succeeded in amending the Assembly's new Members' Code of Conduct yesterday to require Members to treat Assembly staff with courtesy and respect. She did not, however, get support from Labor or Liberal to make Members responsible for the actions of their own staff.

"ACT Labor and Liberal parties have endorsed  'Children Overboard' behaviour where members can hide behind the actions of their staff" Dr Foskey said today.

The Greens amendment would have added a new paragraph that 
<<Members must accept responsibility for the actions and decisions of staff in the performance of their work or duties>>

"Labor argued that this amendment goes without saying. If that were the case, Peter Reith would have never have won his prestigious appointment after politics, and we might well have a different Prime Minister today. The Liberal Party argued that staff might do something stupid, and they simply don't WANT to be accountable for that."

The other Greens amendment that was defeated would have added 
<<Members must ensure that staff members declare their position when participating or raising questions at public meetings, consultations and community events, and in the media>>

"The Liberal Party supported this amendment, so we can expect the occasional change in behaviour from their staff, however the Labor Party opposed it on the basis that it was an issue for the staff themselves and not their Members; and that it wasn't a problem in any event, which is something I dispute" Dr Foskey said.

"The Code of Conduct will build respect for MLAs, but not as quickly as we would like. The requirement to treat other staff of the Assembly with respect is particularly important if we are to manage our workloads effectively in this place."

"However, the failure of the politicians of both major parties to accept responsibility for the actions of their political staff would seem to imply they are fine with unethical behaviour, as long as no one can prove they were personally involved" Dr Foskey said.



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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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