PARLIAMENTARY ETHICS ADVISER
Motion by the Hon. M. R. Egan agreed to:
1. That this House directs the President to join with the Speaker in appointing Mr Ken Robson to the position of Parliamentary Ethics Adviser.
2. That the position be established by way of a contract of employment for a term of 12 months, which may be renewed upon a further resolution being passed by both Houses.
3. That the position be held part-time.
4. That the function of the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser be to advise any member of Parliament, when asked to do so by that member, on ethical issues concerning the exercise of his or her role as a member of Parliament (including the use of entitlements and potential conflicts of interest).
5. That the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser is to be guided in giving this advice by any code of conduct or other guidelines adopted by the House (whether pursuant to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 or otherwise).
6. That the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser’s role not include the giving of legal advice.
7. That the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser be required to keep records of advice given and the factual information upon which it is based.
8. That the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser be under a duty to maintain the confidentiality of information provided to him in that role and the advice given, but that the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser may make advice public if the member who requested the advice gives permission for it to be made public.
9. That this House only call for the production of records of the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser if the member to which the records relate has sought to rely on the advice of the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser or has given permission for the records to be produced to the House.
10. That the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser meet with the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics annually.
11. That the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser be required to report to the Parliament prior to the end of his annual term on the number of ethical matters raised with him, the number of members who sought his advice, the amount of time spent in the course of his duties and the number of times advice was given.
12. That the Parliamentary Ethics Adviser may report to the Parliament from time to time on any problems arising from the determinations of the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal that have given rise to requests for ethics advice and proposals to address these problems.
Message forwarded to the Legislative Assembly advising it of the resolution.