ACT politician's alleged 'threatening' behaviour towards former leader dismissed

The ACT Commissioner for Standards, Ken Crispin, has recommended the dismissal of a complaint filed by former Liberal MLA Leanne Castley against MLA Chiaka Barry. Castley had alleged that Barry engaged in "threatening behavior" during a meeting in May, which she claimed breached the Members of the Legislative Assembly's code of conduct.

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She said she would 'physically come at her', raised her fists and mimicked bashing a table during a meeting.

According to Castley's complaint, filed in June, Barry allegedly stated she would "physically come at her," raised her fists, and mimicked bashing a table. The meeting was reportedly convened to discuss a comment Castley had made the previous day that had upset Barry. The commissioner described Barry's reaction as "somewhat intemperate" but ultimately concluded that her behavior was not "wholly unreasonable" under the circumstances and did not constitute a breach of the code of conduct.

This incident follows Castley's departure from the Canberra Liberals in June to sit as an independent. At the time, she cited a "toxic culture" within the party, alleging experiences of "bullying, intimidation, lies, and even a threat of physical assault." The following day, Barry downplayed the allegations, characterizing the interaction as an "animated discussion" that occurred after Castley had "verbally embarrassed" her in the legislative chamber.

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The commissioner described Ms Barry's response to Ms Castley as 'somewhat intemperate', but said he was not satisfied her behaviour was not 'wholly unreasonable' in the circumstances, or that it involved a breach of the code of conduct.

In her complaint, received by the commissioner on June 4, Castley detailed that Barry had breached conduct rules, including those requiring members to "treat each other with courtesy and propriety." She recounted being asked to attend the May 7 meeting in Opposition Leader Mark Parton's office, where Barry allegedly "raised both her fists and mimicked bashing the table." Castley stated that Barry then "hurled a barrage of accusations" and threatened, "if I ever do this to her again, she would come after me, come at me and physically come at me."

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She had 'experienced bullying, intimidation, lies, and even a threat of physical assault'.

Commissioner Crispin contacted both Barry and Parton, who provided responses, before finalizing his report. While Castley expressed disappointment that the commissioner had not interviewed witnesses, she accepted that the matter was now closed. The report recommends the complaint be dismissed, concluding that Barry's conduct did not rise to the level of a code of conduct violation.

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Barry hosed down the allegation of threatening behaviour, saying the former leader had misunderstood an 'animated discussion'.