CONFUSION and surprise still surrounds the unexpected resignation of Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard on Tuesday.

The Senator, who will step down from the States in around six weeks after a political career of 12 years, announced her decision in a brief statement yesterday morning. She said she was resigning ‘on a matter of moral conscience and principle’ over the Council of Ministers’ refusal to discuss a change to the way judges instruct juries over uncorroborated evidence.

Immediately after making the statement she left the Chamber and did not return. And she was still absent from this morning’s sitting. Her assistant minister, Deputy Andrew Lewis, was appointed as her replacement this morning, but only after a delay because he did not turn up on time. However, he is only an interim replacement and will also step down from the States in December. Poll-topper and former Magistrate Ian Le Marquand is favourite to take over the role.

Chief Minister Frank Walker told the States yesterday afternoon that ministers did not reject the proposal by Home Affairs to give judges discretion on how to instruct juries on evidence supplied by an accomplice to a crime, or where the evidence is supplied by a child.

Pictured: Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis and his former boss Senator Wendy Kinnard, who resigned on Tuesday