Legislative Assembly—member conduct

MR RATTENBURY: Chief Minister, last week on 666, ABC Radio Breakfast, host Ross Solly read out an anonymous text message from a sitting Labor member of the Assembly. The text made a series of reflections on another member of this place, including about that member taking personal leave from the Assembly. Chief Minister, do you consider it to be an acceptable standard of conduct for sitting members to send anonymous texts to the media with these sorts of reflections about another member taking personal leave?

MR BARR: I thank Mr Rattenbury for the question. No; I do not. I asked the member concernedtoissueadirectapologytoMs Lee.Thathasoccurredandhas beenaccepted.

MR RATTENBURY: Chief Minister, will you inform the Assembly who in the Labor Party sent this anonymous text message?

MR BARR: Yes; I can. Ms Cheyne sent the text message.

MR BRADDOCK: Chief Minister, why did you not require the member to make a public apology, or was it your preferred strategy to try to sweep it under the carpet?

MR BARR: I think that is a very pejorative question from Mr Braddock. I received an approach from Ms Lee, asking for the identification of the member and for an apology. I undertook to find out and asked for that apology to be given. It was, within a matter of hours. I subsequently contacted Ms Lee to be assured that the apology was received, and it was.