Jay Weatherill says 'parasite' insult is unacceptable and destructive
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Version 0 of 1. Jay Weatherill says the public labelling of a colleague as a "parasite" is unacceptable and destructive to the South Australian Labor government. The dumped former president of the Legislative Council, John Gazzola, called his replacement and factional rival, Russell Wortley, a parasite and called on him to resign during an extraordinary attack in parliament on Tuesday night. The premier on Wednesday said he would not dignify the remarks with a comment and said it was up to the party to decide whether Gazzola should be disciplined. "Obviously John Gazzola is very disappointed about no longer being president and he has chosen the most detructive way of expressing himself," he said. "I think it's pretty sad, actually. "I expect everyone to get on with the job of representing the people of South Australia and not indulge themselves in these personal attacks over what is essentially about who gets what job in the parliament." In his parliamentary speech, Gazzola told his replacement he would normally congratulate him on becoming the president. "Given the circumstances, and by the mere fact that you became the president through a secret factional deal, it is difficult for me to wish you well in your role," he said. "Sir, I have known you for many years and over time I have formed my own view that you are a parasite and an embarrassment to the Labor movement. "The final advice, given your record as a minister, would be that you should resign as president of the Legislative Council." The opposition leader, Steven Marshall, said Labor's bitter factional warfare had exploded after 12 long years in government. "This Labor government is parasitic, divided, dysfunctional and not interested in good governance," he said. Labor gained office at the March election with the backing of the independent MP Geoff Brock, who was made minister for regional development. In parliament on Wednesday, Marshall referred Brock to Gazzola's comments and to the minority government agreement the minister signed that spoke of supporting "stable and effective government". Brock said he was disappointed with what had happened in the upper house but saw no issues relating to stability. The opposition health spokesman, Rob Lucas, said the outburst displayed the divisions within Labor. "The deep personal enmity between the left and the right of the Labor party is a result of Labor's perverse factional system that doles out the rewards of office on the basis of factional allegiance rather than talent," he said. Marshall referred Brock to his commitment to reassess his support of the minority government if serious "maladministration or corruption is uncovered". He asked if Brock would support the referring of the allegations made against Wortley, a former union official, to the royal commission into union corruption set up by the federal government. The deputy premier, John Rau, answered that the state government did not direct, nor impede, the federal government's royal commission. "In the event we are able to assist them in any way, we will cooperate with them," he said. |