Groom comments raise ire of MLCs

A WAR of words has erupted between the State Government and some Upper House MPs after the Government’s Bill to establish mandatory sentences for child sexual offences failed to pass the house.

Acting Attorney-General Matthew Groom issued a press release soon after the vote on Wednesday night, saying “if Labor had supported the Bill with their three votes, it would have passed”.

Mr Groom said the Government had a mandate for the legislation, and would seek another at the upcoming state election.

The Bill was defeated 6-6, but only two of Labor’s three MLCs voted. The third Labor member did not vote in compensation for unwell Liberal MLC Vanessa Goodwin not voting.

Liberal MLC Leonie Hiscutt said if Labor had supported the Bill, that pairing arrangement would not have applied.

Labor will discuss the pairing arrangement at a meeting next week but Labor MLC Craig Farrell said Labor intended to maintain the arrangement.

Three of the four independent MLCs who voted against the Bill voiced concerns about the Government’s statements on Wednesday.

Independent Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch said he had increasing concerns about the way the Upper House was being treated.

“I tell you, if they are good Bills I will support them. If they are lousy Bills, they will not get my support,” he said.

Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest said Mr Groom’s statement suggested the Legislative Council was letting children down.

“That is dishonest, it is misrepresenting the truth. I would hesitate to say it is lying but it is unbelievably disrespectful of those members who care deeply about our children and wish to see our precious and vulnerable children protected,” she said.

“How dare they? How dare they? This is disgraceful behaviour from a government of any colour.”

Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney said a Facebook post made by the Government after the vote was “not cricket. It is not fair and it is not right”.