Former Bass Liberal MHA Andrew Nikolic has come under fire for making political statements on his professional Facebook page while serving as a member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
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Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said he believed the public comments over a number of months, many of which referenced the same-sex marriage debate, may have contravened standards of conduct for tribunal members, set out by the Administrative Review Council.
The standards state that:
"...partisan political acitivity in relation to issues of public controversy is not considered appropriate.
Such activity may result in perceptions of partiality or bias."
Mr Nikolic was appointed to the tribunal after losing his seat in the 2016 federal election.
The position pays $300,000 a year.
Mr Dreyfus said it appeared through numerous and regular posts on his public Facebook page, Mr Nikolic was continuing his political career as he did before the election loss.
“His public Facebook page is nothing but a campaign vehicle for himself and the Liberal Party,” he said.
“Mr Nikolic has two choices – he can be a campaigner for the Liberal Party, or he can do his job as a senior Tribunal member.
“He cannot do both.”
Mr Nikolic was contacted for comment.