Opposition Leader Mark Parton has called on Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry to resign after her former chief of staff was found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct.
Ms Berry is under growing pressure to quit cabinet, with the ACT Greens, Kurrajong independent Thomas Emerson and Murrumbidgee independent Fiona Carrick also calling for the long-serving minister to go.
"And if she chooses not to resign, I would be calling upon the Chief Minister to dismiss her," Mr Parton said.
The ACT Integrity Commission found Josh Ceramidas, who was Ms Berry's chief of staff, and former Education head Katy Haire "dishonestly provided a back door by which the strategic interests of the CFMEU were given priority" in the way a contract was awarded for a primary school upgrade.
Mr Parton said the findings of corrupt conduct in a top staffer and official in the Education Directorate, which Ms Berry was responsible for as Education Minister, meant she needed to quit.
"If you can't trust those generals that the minister has appointed well I don't know who you can trust," Mr Parton said.
The Opposition Leader pointed to Chief Minister Andrew Barr's comments after Joy Burch resigned as police minister in 2015 that "ministers are not only accountable for their own behaviour but also for the decisions and actions of their staff".
"I would hope that the minister and or the Chief Minister do the right thing and end this," Mr Parton told a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
ACT Greens leader Jo Clay said Ms Berry could not continue in her role.
"Canberrans expect and deserve ministers who are accountable for their actions and the actions of those who serve directly under them. These findings expose a serious breach of the standards of accountability and integrity, and a clear betrayal of the community's trust," Ms Clay said in a statement.
"We are calling on Minister Berry to do the right thing and resign now. We will call for further accountability measures as we consider this report."
Mr Emerson said it was difficult to imagine a more egregious breach of the ministerial code of conduct and Ms Berry should step down.
"The Ministerial Code of Conduct states clearly that ministers are accountable for the decisions and actions of their staff, and are responsible for ensuring their staff comply with the Ministerial Staff Code of Conduct. It's difficult to imagine a more egregious breach of these obligations than a minister's most senior staff member engaging in serious corrupt conduct that's potentially criminal in nature," Mr Emerson said in a statement.
"Minister Berry either directed her chief of staff to engage in this conduct, knew about his conduct and failed to stop it, or didn't know what he was up to at all. Each possibility is deeply concerning, and all are clear breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
"Given these facts, the Deputy Chief Minister should do the right thing today and step down."
The ACT government is expected to release a statement later on Thursday.
More to come.
