The ICAC call

Peg Putt, Press Release

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA said that the murky TCC agreement and how it was contrived was the type of matter which should properly be investigated by an ICAC, and that other allegations of government cronyism would also be impartially assessed by such a body.

Will Hodgman, Press Release

“If Labor had nothing to hide, it would have agreed today to establishing an independent anti-corruption commission.”

Greens

MEDIA RELEASE

Peg Putt MHA

Greens Opposition Leader

Thursday, 13 JULY 2006

GREENS RENEW CALL FOR ICAC

TCC Evasions Strengthen Need

The Tasmanian Greens today renewed their call for the establishment of an Independent Commission Against Corruption or similar body in Tasmania, which was a key Greens policy announced during the recent State election.

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA said that the murky TCC agreement and how it was contrived was the type of matter which should properly be investigated by an ICAC, and that other allegations of government cronyism would also be impartially assessed by such a body.

“Tasmania needs an Independent Commission Against Corruption to get to the heart of allegations of Lennon government cronyism and especially the developing saga of Minister Green’s relationship with the Tasmanian Compliance Corporation,” Ms Putt said.

“It is imperative to uphold high standards in public life and an ICAC is part of our insurance as a society that allegations of corrupt behaviour and wrongdoing by people in authority will be impartially investigated and brought to book if necessary.”

“The evasion of normal accountability by the Premier and his Ministers demonstrated over weeks of Parliamentary scrutiny justifies our claim that we need an external body to ensure high standards are maintained in public life.”

“The Greens mounted our call for an ICAC at our election campaign launch in March and subsequent events have reinforced the need.”

Libs

Media Release

Tasmanian Liberal Leader

WILL HODGMAN, MHA

Thursday July 13, 2006

Anti-corruption commission needed in Tasmania

Tasmania needs an independent anti-corruption commission.

That’s the sad conclusion to the first session of Parliament with Paul Lennon as Premier in his own right – a session that has been dominated by the Tasmanian Compliance Corporation scandal and the government’s continuing efforts to cover it up.

With Labor Ministers refusing to answer questions in Question Time, the government using its numbers to defeat a motion of no confidence in the Deputy Premier Bryan Green, as well as a motion to establish a select committee inquiry into the scandal, and the Parliament’s most powerful committee, the Public Accounts Committee, apparently not having the powers to probe this massive scandal, it’s clear an independent forum is needed to get to the bottom of affairs that involve misconduct and potential corruption.

The need for such a body was confirmed again in Parliament today by:

· The Deputy Premier refusing to answer any questions in relation to new allegations by one of Tasmania’s most respected public servants, Transend CEO Richard Bevan, relating to Mr Green’s rejection of a second body’s application to accredit architects, engineers and building surveyors. Mr Bevan has described the government’s conduct as either inconscionable or incompetent; and

· Bryan Green not answering why he misled Parliament when he said the Auditor General was investigating this matter, when he is not.

Tasmanian Liberal Leader, Will Hodgman, said that if Bryan Green was the Deputy Premier of NSW, WA or Queensland, his actions in signing the shonky TCC deal could have been referred immediately for investigation to those state’s anti-corruption commissions.

In NSW, for instance, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, deals with conduct that involves a breach of public trust and conduct which could adversely affect the exercise of official functions by any public official or authority.

The stated objective of the ICAC is to promote the integrity and accountability of public administration.

“If Labor had nothing to hide, it would have agreed today to establishing an independent anti-corruption commission.

“It’s a disgrace that Premier Paul Lennon refused to entertain the idea of an ICAC but the Liberals will pursue this matter because it’s obvious Tasmania needs an anti-corruption commission to probe this government’s dealings.”