“It seems to be almost beyond belief that, whilst holding an office and in the close confines in which politics puts you with your colleagues, Mr Orkopoulos was able to perpetrate the disgusting crimes he did without the early suspicion or questioning of any of his Labor colleagues.

“Mr Orkopoulos has destroyed the lives of those he interfered with and this must be stated in clear and obvious light so no condoning, in any way shape or form, could ever be assumed for what he did.

“It is a very sad day in the reflection of the tenor of Labor politics in NSW, following the guilty verdict of former Labor Minister, Milton Orkopoulos, on 28 child sex and drug charges. Quickly, following the instances surrounding the Wollongong Council and its involvement with certain Labor politicians, the people of NSW really have to ask themselves if they are being lead by a pack of hobos.

“Every political party, from time to time, has to deal with an isolated incidence, but NSW Labor appears to have descended into a litany of disgust with an immense question mark over some of the office bearers who have lead their state.

“The obvious question which has to be asked is: what internal checks and balances, if any, are present within the Labor Party to deal with the calibre and character of their elected members of parliament? Why doesn’t the party have the capacity to be more proactive in monitoring the stable of people they believe have the capacity to hold the highest public offices within their organisation?

“What are they going to do into the future so that some of these appalling outcomes are not repeated?

“As Labor is a centralist federal party these questions, pertinent to Labor in NSW, are pertinent to Labor everywhere, including Canberra. What are the control mechanisms that Prime Minister Rudd and Labor National President, NSW Senator John Faulkner, have in Canberra so that an Orkopoulos type incident does not disgrace our National Parliament?” Senator Joyce said.


Ends