2015-09-17
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — The material and testimony in the Herald Sun this morning, if proven, would represent a serious misuse of funds by members and, on the precedent of decisions made by the Privileges Committee in the lower house, a breach of the code of conduct for MPs. Since the allegation is that this occurred in relation to multiple members and, on a quick calculation, represents hundreds of thousands of dollars, I do not see how we can come into this place today and simply move on with business as usual as if nothing is happening.
I would have expected the government to have already provided an explanation of its side of the story. The story continues to roll out from people who have given stat decs to the Herald Sun and who are on radio as we speak, and no doubt it will continue on TV tonight. Given the impact of the allegations against Mr Geoff Shaw, the former member for Frankston in the Assembly, for his few thousand dollars of fuel card misuse or federal Speaker Bronwyn Bishop for her helicopter flight, I would be mighty surprised if the government intends to come in here today and just proceed with its business program as if nothing is happening.