Has Portolesi lost Weatherill’s support?

Posted on November 16, 2011

Embattled Minister Portolesi appears to have lost the support of Premier Weatherill after her latest controversy.

Leader of the Opposition Isobel Redmond said Mr Weatherill has conceded that a review into the current MPs’ travel entitlements might need to be conducted.

“Mr Weatherill’s concession comes after the Liberal Opposition exposed Ms Portolesi’s breach of Parliamentary travel rules,” Ms Redmond said.

“The real issue here is that Ms Portolesi has breached Parliamentary travel rules by taking her 7-year-old daughter on a Ministerial business trip to India at a massive cost to taxpayers.

“Prior to this controversy, Ms Portolesi also chartered a plane to the APY Lands for one night at a cost to taxpayers of almost $20,000.

“In the wake of Ms Portolesi’s latest scandal, Mr Weatherill believes a review needs to take place.

“Mr Weatherill is now saying that Ms Portolesi’s breach of Parliamentary rules has sparked calls for a review.

“What Mr Weatherill needs to do is provide copies of the travel exemption documents as approved by former Speaker Snelling and current Speaker Breuer.

“Mr Weatherill’s concession is a clear vote of no confidence in Ms Portolesi – one of his senior Ministers, his former Chief-of-Staff and a close ally.

“It now appears that not even Mr Weatherill can defend Ms Portolesi anymore – there have been too many controversies and too many crises on her watch.

“This is Mr Weatherill’s first real test of leadership and he is deliberately trying to avoid making any public comment about the specifics of Ms Portolesi’s controversy.

“Perhaps Mr Weatherill is learning the hard way that the top job requires strength in leadership.”