Chiaka Barry cleared of conduct breach in Canberra parliamentary complaint

The Legislative Assembly Commissioner of Standards, Dr Ken Crispin, has dismissed a complaint against Canberra Liberal MLA Chiaka Barry regarding an alleged threat of violence against Independent MLA Leanne Castley. While the Commissioner described Barry’s language during a May meeting as “somewhat intemperate,” the report concluded that her conduct did not breach the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The dispute arose following a tense exchange where Castley alleged that Barry raised her fists and mimicked hitting a table, accompanied by verbal accusations. Barry denied the allegations of physical intimidation, stating it was never her intention to threaten Castley.

In a separate matter involving the budget estimates committee, controversy has emerged regarding the handling of a complaint against Opposition Leader Mark Parton. While a spokesperson for Parton claimed Barry showed him the full details of an anonymous email complaint, Barry has denied showing him the text. The committee noted that standing orders restrict the disclosure of committee documents to non-members unless authorized, and Parton has not responded to inquiries regarding who provided him with the email.