THE State Opposition is demanding Labor MP Patrick Conlon resign from State Parliament immediately after he allegedly started working three days a week as a lawyer at Minter Ellison.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Vickie Chapman produced an internal Minter Ellison email which said Mr Conlon was joining the law firm three days a week from today.
The email - which Ms Chapman said was genuine - appears to be an internal note from Minter Ellison managing partner Adam Bannister. Mr Bannister has not returned calls for comment.
The email advises staff Mr Conlon will join the firm as of today and work three days a week, based in its real estate division.
"As you will all be aware, Patrick was, until very recently, the Minister for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure in the current State Government. Having retired from the Front Bench, he is keen to return to practice," the email states.
"Patrick graduated with first class honours in Law in 1992, before he commenced life as a Parliamentarian.
"Patrick will initially be based on the 8th Floor in the Real Estate Division, but the plan is for him to be working closely with all practice groups, particularly the Corporate and Resources Teams. Patrick will be here 3 days a week given his commitments as a serving MP."
Ms Chapman today held a press conference outside Mr Conlon's electorate office on South Rd at Melrose Park, which included walking in and asking to speak to Mr Conlon.
On being told he was not in the office, she left her telephone number with his staff with a request he contact her.
She said if he only intends to work two days a week "part-time Pat" should resign from the seat he first won in 1997 and now holds with a margin of 1.7 per cent. He already has announced he will not contest the 2014 election.
"Pat Conlon has abandoned South Australians in his electorate and should resign immediately," Ms Chapman said.
"Mr Conlon should be working for his constituents in Elder, not for a law firm.
"The people of Elder elected Pat Conlon to represent them for four years.
"If they had known he'd leave them high and dry, I am sure they would have thought twice about electing him.
"If Mr Conlon wants to work as a lawyer he should resign immediately from office and force a by-election."
Mr Conlon has not returned calls seeking comment.
There is no parliamentary rule forbidding MPs conducting business outside their electoral and parliamentary duties, for example Deputy Premier John Rau practised law while a backbencher.
However, most tend to put in managers if they run businesses such as farms, as Liberal MP for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson has done with her modelling agency.
While taking a part-time job is not against a specific rule for MPs, Elder constituents shopping at Castle Plaza directly across the road from Mr Conlon's office today clearly thought it was against the spirit of democracy.
Brian and Jan Chamberlain of St Marys said if Mr Conlon wanted to be a lawyer he should quit.
"I would have thought he is paid quite enough as a politicians to not need another job," Mrs Chamberlain said.
"He should concentrate on representing this area. Once he is out of Parliament he can do what he wants but until he resigns he should be working full time for Elder."
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