Integrity Commission must retain investigative powers

Labor has reiterated the need for the Integrity Commission to retain its investigative powers.

The final report of the Joint Standing Committee on Integrity has pushed a decision on the Commission’s investigative functions to the five year review.

Labor’s representative on the Committee, Shadow Attorney General Lara Giddings, argued strongly that the investigative functions should be retained.

“The report largely leaves the issue of investigative powers and functions of the Integrity Commission to the five year review, with the Commission to retain its investigative functions and powers until the conclusion of that review,” Ms Giddings wrote in her dissenting report.

“However, the second recommendation says the Integrity Commission be given only the authority to assess, triage and monitor all investigations. I disagree with this finding as I believe that it is also important for the Integrity Commission to retain its investigative powers, particularly as it has jurisdiction over state and local government bodies.

“While the Commission has not found evidence of corruption in Tasmania, it has uncovered enough issues of concern to warrant further investigation. The time taken in some of the investigations is concerning and the report has made recommendations around this element.”
Lara Giddings MP Shadow Attorney-General