FORMER Darling Range MLA Barry Urban resigned last week in the wake of a Parliamentary committee finding that declared him in “gross contempt of Parliament” and recommended his expulsion.
The Procedure and Privileges Committee recommended the Legislative Assembly dismiss Mr Urban and strip him of any privileges he was entitled to as a former MP as he had deliberately misled Parliament.
Mr Urban was found to have lied to Parliament about the authenticity of a police medal – which was revealed to have been purchased online – and forged his University of Leeds degree.
The committee declared he knew he had no right to wear the medal, which he initially claimed was sent to him by UK authorities, and he had committed a “sustained and gross contempt of Parliament”.
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READ NOWIt ruled he had also lied about attending the University of Portsmouth, his time in the Balkans and his study of a Diploma of Local Government.
Mr Urban resigned soon after the findings were announced before the State Government had a chance to expel him. He quit the Labor Party in November after it was discovered the medal he claimed was awarded to him for police work was purchased online.
The now-vacant seat of Darling Range will go to a by-election.