INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF STATE SERVICE CHANGES SECURED

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the Upper House support for an independent review of new changes to the State Service oversight provisions to be conducted within three years and reported to Parliament, following the passage of the State Service Amendment Bill through the Parliament yesterday.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said the Greens had proposed this legislated review requirement be inserted when the Bill was being debated in the Lower House, which was agreed to by Labor.

“I thank the Premier for agreeing to amend the Bill to include this suggestion which provides an additional layer of scrutiny and review, and I further welcome the Legislative Council’s endorsement of this provision,” Mr McKim said

“After direct discussions with the Auditor General, the Greens were reassured regarding his oversight role, yet we were aware that some people remain concerned. That is why we proposed a legislated review of these new oversight changes be inserted into the Bill, which must occur within three years, to double-check that the Auditor General’s role is providing the necessary independent oversight as intended.”

“With the successful passage of the amended Bill through the Upper House yesterday, we all now know that by 2015 an independent review of the Bill’s amendments and their operation will be conducted and reported to Parliament.”

“Independent review and oversight of both the public sector and its responsible Minister are fundamental to our Westminster system, and the Greens would not support anything which erodes that accountability,” Mr McKim said.
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader