No action will be taken against ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, after a Legislative Assembly committee decided not to pursue an inquiry into his alleged threat against a Liberal rival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last month Liberal whip Andrew Wall moved to set up a privileges committee to investigate comments Mr Barr made to Liberal politican Jeremy Hanson.
The comment was made during a heated committee hearing in November last year in which Mr Barr asked Mr Hanson to "take it outside", before Mr Hanson asserted his role as committee chairman, to which Mr Barr said: "For the time being, yes".
Mr Hanson responded, asking him if the comment was a threat, to which Mr Barr responded that "it is, yes".
Mr Barr said he made the comment, with the addition of the words "into the other chamber", only because Mr Hanson had said repeatedly he had "pocketed" public funds.
However Mr Wall said the exchange amounted to bullying and Mr Barr had breached parliamentary rules.
But the Greens, who hold the balance of power in the chamber, put up an amendment to instead refer both Mr Barr and Mr Hanson to the standing committee on Administration and Procedure to investiate their conduct.
However committee chair, Speaker Joy Burch revealed on Thursday the committee had decided to drop the probe altogether.
"The committee noted the discussion in the debate on the referral motion and the withdrawal of offending comments. The committee resolved that no further action be taken," Ms Burch told the Assembly.
She said the committee was already reviewing the rules of the chamber, which could mean changes to how politicians are required to conduct themselves in parliament.
