If the online comments are anything to go by, a number of readers do not accept the view expressed quite forcibly by the Housing minister that the frequency with which the Policy Council meets – or does not – is a non-story.

Quite the reverse.

The opaque nature of cancellations and the apparent overseas private business activities of the chief minister have become matters of intense interest.

A number of deputies are also concerned by the ad hoc getting together of the council and this newspaper last week suggested that the hiatus questions the role and value of the council.

Beyond that, however, lies the matter of why this has become an issue.

It is unlikely that meetings not being held would have become headline material apart from the chief minister’s involvement with a private company and the speculation emerging that the council’s plans were altered while he was off on a sales trip.

Deputies having external interests is actually a good thing. It extends the knowledge and experience in the Assembly and reduces the possibility of members acting and voting simply to hold on to their seat and salary.

It is, however, unfortunate, that one individual’s directorship has become the story when properly declared interests are entirely legitimate with other deputies holding them as well and without comment.

The other concerning aspect is the length of time it is taking the code of conduct panel to look into the formal complaint against the chief minister.

Any complaint hanging over a minister is damaging and there is a responsibility on the code panel to resolve it as soon as possible.

No potential disciplinary issue lodged against an individual in a private company would be allowed to drag on in this dilatory fashion because it is simply unfair on the people involved, in whichever camp.

Yet this matter drags on, which is unsatisfactory enough, and elements within the States and the electorate seem uncertain whether being a deputy should be a full-time job or not (it emphatically should not).

Either way, allowing this level of uncertainty is damaging to the Assembly as a whole.