Integrity Commission legislation

This legislation is not about cleaning up politics in Tasmania – it is about trying to clean up David Bartlett’s political image.

11 long years of Labor incompetence, maladministration and nepotism has destroyed the integrity of the Tasmanian political system, and the trust that the public used to hold in it.

We’ve had the Richard Butler fiasco, the two Bryan Green criminal trials, the Steve Kons lying to parliament affair, the Paula Wreidt issue, the Ken Bacon fiasco, the Alison Ritchie nepotism affair – and the list goes on.

On many occasions Mr Bartlett and his predecessor, Mr Lennon, rejected the idea for an anti corruption and ethics commission.

Further, the Government’s own submission to the Joint Select Committee on Ethical Conduct argued that any commission should not have investigative powers.

It has long been our policy that a Hodgman Liberal Government will introduce an Anti-Corruption and Ethics Commission.

We have consistently said that such a commission must have the capacity to independently initiate and investigate allegations of corruption or maladministration, and it should be chaired by an independent commissioner.

We have only just received the Bill, and will make further comment once we have had a chance to fully consider its contents.

It should also be noted that are many other recommendations from the Joint Select Committee inquiry into Ethical Conduct– aside from the creation of an integrity commission – that the government has failed to respond to and the Premier should explain when, or if, he intends to address these prior to Parliament rising.
Will Hodgman MP Leader of the Opposition