Barnett and Carles cleared of wrongdoing

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett and independent MP Adele Carles have been
cleared of any wrongdoing by the corruption watchdog over the so-called
`staff-for-votes' controversy.
In October, Ms Carles and Mr Barnett met in his parliamentary office to discuss the
issue of additional staff for the independent.
The MP, who resigned from the Greens earlier this year, left the meeting believing
she had come to an agreement with Mr Barnett under which she would gain an extra
staff member if she supported the government.
This meant Ms Carles would not block supply or vote against the government on
no-confidence motions.
However, Mr Barnett said there was no deal and Ms Carles "volunteered" her support,
adding any decision to grant additional staff would not be conditional.
As a result Opposition Leader Eric Ripper referred the matter to the WA Corruption
and Crime Commission citing allegations of serious misconduct.
On Monday commissioner Len Roberts-Smith said advice from an independent senior
barrister indicated the alleged arrangement would not have been in breach of the
Criminal Code.
He said because the member for Fremantle did not stand to gain a personal benefit
from the arrangement, her actions could not be described as "improper".
"There is also the precedent of similar agreements such as that between the Federal
Government and independent members Mr Tony Windsor and Mr Rob Oakeshott," he said.
Ms Carles sparked controversy in WA politics in April when it was revealed that she
was having an affair with then treasurer Troy Buswell.
Amid the fallout, Ms Carles quit the Greens and now represents the seat of Fremantle
as an independent.



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