Windsor calls for MP standards debate

21 May 2012, 7:03 pm   -   Source: AAP

Independent MP Tony Windsor says he wants the parliament this fortnight to debate changing threshold standards for expelling MPs.

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Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor has called for a parliamentary debate on tightening the rules under which an MP can be expelled from parliament.

Under current law, a federal MP can be expelled if he or she is sentenced to one year or more in jail or is declared bankrupt.

Mr Windsor said the reactions to the Member for Dobell, Craig Thomson, who is alleged to have misused union funds when he was boss of the Health Services Union (HSU) from 2002 to 2007, and to Speaker Peter Slipper, showed the public was demanding higher standards of MPs.

He said the courts should be allowed to get on with the job of determining the matters around Mr Thomson and Mr Slipper, who is accused of sexually harassing a staffer.

In the meantime, a debate was needed on whether legal or constitutional change was appropriate, to set higher standards for MPs.

"Would the community say, for example, proven sexual harassment is acceptable behaviour of an MP?" Mr Windsor told AAP on Monday.

"Personally I would say it is not.

"Or should the threshold be any jailable offence, not just one year or more?

"We've got to talk about due process and the possibility of more lines in the sand."

Mr Windsor said he wanted to see the debate brought on in the next fortnight of sittings.

He said it was important for the public to have input into the discussion.

"The general public need to tell us if they think the standards are not good enough," he said.

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