Portolesi just doesn’t get it

Posted on November 17, 2011

Embattled Minister Portolesi just doesn’t get it – she has breached Cabinet endorsed Parliamentary travel rules.

“Ms Portolesi has a spouse and therefore she cannot undertake travel with anyone other than her husband,” Leader of the Opposition Isobel Redmond said.

“Ms Portolesi travelled business class to India with her 7-year-old daughter – but she was not allowed to do so.

“Mr Weatherill must explain publicly why Ms Portolesi was able to breach Parliamentary travel rules by having her daughter travel business class at a massive cost to taxpayers.

“The release of any documents that purport to grant approval to Ms Portolesi misses the key point.

“That is, Parliamentary travel rules are endorsed by Cabinet and therefore special dispensation cannot be provided by the Speaker or the Speaker’s office.

“Any other argument by Mr Weatherill, Mr Snelling, Ms Breuer, Ms Portolesi or any other Labor MP simply does not suffice.

“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.”