Weatherill & Portolesi just don’t get it

Posted on November 17, 2011

Premier Weatherill and embattled Minister Portolesi just don’t get it – Ms Portolesi 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.

“Neither Mr Weatherill nor Ms Portolesi get it.

“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.

“Not only that, but Mr Weatherill and Ms Portolesi are yet to explain what “enormous benefit” Ms Portolesi’s daughter actually offered to her taxpayer funded trip.

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