Violations of the Code of Conduct

Under the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, any Member with reasonable grounds to believe that the Code of Conduct has been violated by another Member may apply to the Commissioner for Legislative Standards (presently the Chief Electoral Officer) for an opinion on the alleged violation. The Commissioner may investigate the matter and report to the Management Commission, which must then present the report to the House. Alleged violations under the Code of Conduct may also be referred to the Commissioner by the House or the Premier. They may also be self-initiated by the Commissioner.

It is up to the House to decide upon the recommendations in the report. The penalties which the Commissioner may recommend include:

• The Member be reprimanded;
• The Member make restitution or pay compensation;
• The Member be suspended from the House, with or without pay, for a specified period; or
• The Member's seat be declared vacant.

The Commissioner may also refer criminal misconduct to the appropriate authorities.

Previous Reports of the Commissioner for Legislative Standards