Independent MLA Fiona Carrick Apologises in Legislative Assembly Following Code of Conduct Breach

Independent MLA Fiona Carrick has formally apologised inside the ACT Legislative Assembly after an investigation concluded she breached the member code of conduct during a staff meeting, according to reporting by Monte Bovill for ABC Australia.

Ms Carrick, who serves as the independent member for the electorate of Murrumbidgee, addressed the assembly on Thursday afternoon following findings that she yelled, swore, and slammed a table during a gathering with her employees in May.

The inquiry into Ms Carrick's actions was initiated after a staff member lodged a formal complaint regarding the meeting. Ken Crispin, the assembly's commissioner for standards, examined the incident and determined that the conduct constituted a breach of the rules governing members' behaviour.

According to the commissioner's findings, Ms Carrick shouted at a staff member despite multiple requests to cease, used inappropriate language, slammed a table, and threatened an employee with the non-renewal of their employment contract in front of other office staff.

Following the completion of the investigation, Commissioner Crispin referred the matter to the assembly's standing committee on administration and procedure. The committee subsequently recommended that Ms Carrick issue a formal apology to the assembly, a directive she fulfilled on Thursday.

Addressing the chamber, Ms Carrick acknowledged that her behaviour during the May meeting fell short of both her own personal standards and the benchmarks rightly expected of members of the assembly. She noted that she had offered apologies to those directly involved at the time of the incident and extended that apology to the assembly as a whole.

Requirements outlined in the MLA code of conduct mandate that politicians must actively promote and reflect a workplace that is collegiate, inclusive, diverse, and safe, while ensuring that health and safety risks are properly minimized. The commissioner concluded that Ms Carrick failed to meet these obligations through her own conduct during the meeting.

Details contained within the committee's report indicated that four staff members were present during the weekly team gathering. Ms Carrick acknowledged during the process that she raised her voice, used inappropriate language, and brought up an employee's employment status in a group setting, admitting that she had not handled the situation professionally.

The commissioner described the episode as an isolated outburst of frustration. However, the committee's report noted that information gathered during the investigation expanded the scope of the inquiry to include allegations that Ms Carrick had previously failed to adequately address both formal and informal complaints concerning workplace bullying in her office.

Evidence reviewed by the commissioner demonstrated that underlying tensions had existed in Ms Carrick's office prior to the May incident, stemming from interpersonal difficulties between two members of staff. Recommendations were previously made for Ms Carrick to arrange an independent investigation into those initial allegations.

Instead of pursuing an independent investigation, Ms Carrick initially implemented a workplace communication workshop for her team. The committee report stated that the workshop failed to produce the desired outcome and generated additional concerns within the office.

Subsequent to the workshop, Ms Carrick informed the commissioner that she adopted a structured intervention approach, which involved engaging an independent workplace therapist to assist the office.

The commissioner acknowledged that Ms Carrick had made well-meaning, though ultimately unsuccessful, attempts to reduce and manage the tension and conflicts that had developed among her staff.

Reflecting on the situation during her address to the assembly, Ms Carrick stated that her current team of staff is working collaboratively and effectively together. She emphasized that the experience underscored the critical importance of maintaining a safe, respectful, and collegiate workplace environment, adding that she remains fully committed to upholding those standards and supporting staff wellbeing moving forward.