Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore today stood firm against pressure to sell BHP Billiton and Woodside Petroleum shares held in his wife's superannuation fund.
Mr Moore, acting on advice from the Solicitor General, removed himself as a trustee of the superannuation fund a few days ago, leaving his wife Lee the sole director.
Mr Moore said he has no control over what his wife does and would not be asking her to do anything.
"I find it quite offensive that people are saying because I am married to someone that they have to do what I tell them," Mr Moore said.
"I thought the glass ceiling had been broken and some of my political opponents are suggesting that my wife's business is my business.
"I actually thought we'd got past that and I'm not going to ask her to do anything, she will make her own decision, as she should."
But the Opposition said it was time to put an end to Mr Moore's defiance which was making a mockery of the Liberal party's promise to deliver open and honest Government.
Shadow Minister for Accountability Ljiljanna Ravlich said Premier Colin Barnett must direct Mr Moore to comply with the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
"The Code states that being a Minister demands the highest possible standards of probity, accountability, honesty, integrity and diligence," Ms Ravlich said.
"Norman Moore is marching to his own drum and it's time for Premier to pull him back line.
"If the Premier loses this battle and if Norman Moore is allowed to prevail, Ministerial standards will be dramatically lowered and the bar will be set at ankle height."
