Greg Pearce has become the Illawarra's fifth parliamentary representative to find himself in hot water over his behaviour, having to be helped from the chamber, allegedly too drunk to continue.
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The NSW Finance Minister and Minister for the Illawarra was granted a pair by Labor for feeling unwell during debate on victims' compensation legislation and sent home early on Thursday.
He denies being drunk, saying he only consumed between two and three drinks at a Liberal Party branch fund-raiser at Parliament House.
Premier Barry O'Farrell issued a statement saying he had spoken to Mr Pearce and told him such behaviour would not be tolerated.
"I've made it clear to Mr Pearce if this behaviour is repeated, he won't be part of my team," he said.
The Illawarra portfolio - designed in 2003 to give the region heavyweight representation in Macquarie St - has been undermined by repeated controversy.
Former Heathcote MP Paul McLeay resigned in 2010 after admitting accessing gambling and adult sites on his government-issued computer.
He followed Keira MP David Campbell who was filmed leaving a sex club, and Kiama MP Matt Brown who quit after involvement in a post-budget party at which he reportedly danced in his underwear, an allegation he denies. A fifth former Illawarra minister, Eric Roozendaal, was suspended by the Labor Party last year pending an ICAC investigation into claims he received a new car at a heavily discounted price in return for favours for Eddie Obeid. He resigned from Parliament last month.
Yesterday, Greens MP John Kaye said the incident involving Mr Pearce showed a thorough review was needed of alcohol policy for MPs on sitting nights.
"It's time to look at that comprehensively to work out an alcohol policy that respects the people of NSW and their desire to have laws made by people who are a hundred per cent sober," he said.
Pairs have regularly been granted by both sides of politics to MPs incapacitated by alcohol.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward said he had no problem with the Greens' call for a ban on alcohol, "as long as they extended the ban to marijuana and other drugs also".
"My personal standard is I do not drink while the house is sitting. Everyone can confirm that," Mr Ward said. "I think it's a matter for each individual but I do know this - nurses can't drink on the job, teachers can't, doctors, journalists can't, so why should politicians be any different?"
Mr Ward said Mr Pearce had "made it quite clear he wasn't inebriated and I believe him".
Wollongong MP Noreen Hay said elected members were adults who needed to take responsibility for their own actions.
But a zero-tolerance alcohol policy would be "overkill".
"I'm aware a number of MPs don't have a glass of wine at all when parliament is sitting, for others, such as myself, who stay in hotels while we are up there for parliament, it becomes home away from home and I think a glass of wine with dinner is not unreasonable," she said.
Mrs Hay said banning alcohol because of "one or two who were badly behaved, was punishing everybody".
"I don't think anybody should become drunk. If we were operating dangerous machinery, of course it should be zero tolerance. But MPs are not operating dangerous machinery.
"Anyone misbehaving should be dealt with and dealt with severely. A blanket situation, that would be overkill."
Keira MP Ryan Park said MPs had a "responsibility to their communities to make sure they behave in a way that reflects the trust the community places in them".
"We are making and debating laws that impact on local individuals and communities, it is therefore completely inappropriate that someone is intoxicated as is alleged when they are at Parliament."
Every MP should know their limits, he said.
Heathcote MP Lee Evans said it was up to MPs as public servants to "conduct ourselves as those whom trusted their vote to us would expect".
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said there was no excuse for any form of drunken behaviour in the NSW Parliament from any MP.
