Don Harwin censured over Western Harbour Tunnel project, grilled over lockdown travel
Parliament’s Upper House has dramatically censured reinstated Arts Minister Don Harwin over his failure to provide documents relating to a road project and grilled him over the trip to his Pearl Beach home during COVID-19 lockdown.
NSW
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Parliament’s Upper House has dramatically censured reinstated Arts Minister Don Harwin in his role as the government leader in the Legislative Council over his failure to provide documents relating to a road project.
It came just minutes after Mr Harwin was forced to explain why police sought to fine him for breaching COVID-19 health orders over travel to his Pearl Beach home, a fine that was later abandoned.
Mr Harwin told parliament that former Federal Liberal candidate Geoffrey Winters did not arrive at the Pearl Beach house until March 25, despite flying into Sydney from the UK on March 17 for two weeks of quarantine.
“I did not attend this house or any other face-to-face meetings from 25th of March to the day that Mr Winters’ quarantine ended on the 31st of March,” Mr Harwin said.
During that time, Mr Harwin said he “did not make any trips, other than those for the purchasing of essentials from my local supermarket and hardware store”.
Mr Harwin stood aside from the ministry after he copped a fine from police for breaching health orders with his travel to the Pearl Beach home, first revealed by The Daily Telegraph. The fine was later abandoned.
Mr Harwin said following strict stay-at-home orders coming into effect, he only travelled for essential reasons allowed under the rules.
The censure motion against Mr Harwin could see him removed from the parliament for several weeks if he fails to deliver documents on the Western Harbour Tunnel business case.
Labor and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party plan to work together with the crossbench to enforce a short term suspension for Mr Harwin from the upper house.
They also intended to refer the Pearl Beach matter to a parliamentary committee allowing witnesses to be called to fully examine Mr Harwin’s activities at the height of the pandemic.
The Upper House cross bench and Labor also demanded all motor vehicle records of Mr Harwin, including his log books, toll accounts and driver records, between March 13 and April 10 are tabled to parliament.
It comes after Premier Gladys Berejiklian enraged members of her own team by reinstating Mr Harwin to her ministry after his fine was dropped due to insufficient evidence, even as police commissioner Mick Fuller stood by the infringement notice.
Mr Harwin has always denied any wrongdoing.
“The motions reflect the dissatisfaction the SFF have with the way the Premier handled the potentially harmful actions of one of her ministers,” SFF leader Robert Borsak said.
“Along with the irresponsible behaviour of Mr Harwin which could have resulted in catastrophic circumstances for the community of Pearl Beach, his government and cabinet colleagues.
“Mr Harwin was selfish and inconsiderate of others and acted as if the laws simply didn’t apply to him.”
The motions ensured Mr Harwin faced a difficult return as Leader of Government in the Upper House this week.