Integrity Watchdog ‘Underfunded & Crippled’ says Crossbench

The Tasmanian Government is facing increasing pressure and criticism over its continued under funding of the state’s Integrity Commission, despite public and parliamentary calls for increased resources. Both the Jacqui Lambie Network and the Tasmanian Greens have issued strong statements, highlighting the alarming implications of what they describe as the deliberate under funding of a crucial oversight body.

The Integrity Commission, already considered one of the lowest-funded integrity bodies in the country, now faces further cuts in the forward estimates, despite a recent parliamentary motion, supported by the government, calling for increased resourcing. This move has sparked accusations that the government is intentionally crippling the Commission to avoid scrutiny.

Questions are now being raised about the government’s true commitment to accountability and transparency, with critics suggesting a deliberate attempt to hobble the Commission.

The Premier’s response to these concerns has been deemed unsatisfactory, as he has reportedly failed to address the core issue of the Commission’s ability to operate effectively and comparably to similar bodies in other states.

Read their full statements below:

Media release –  Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Integrity spokesperson, 01 June 2025

Integrity Commission Funding Pleas Ignored

Tasmania’s Integrity Commission is being wilfully underfunded by the Rockliff Government.

After Thursday’s State Budget, it remains the lowest funded integrity body in the country and, in fact, faces cuts across the next four years.

Chief Commissioner, Greg Mellick SC AO, warned in last year’s annual report that the Commission is not funded to properly do its work. He gave similar evidence to a parliamentary inquiry and in public comments. All have fallen on deaf ears.

Commissioner Mellick says investigations are being protracted as staff are forced to juggle multiple competing priorities.

Among those long-running investigations, it has been confirmed, are two sitting Liberal MPs. Is that why the government is cutting the Integrity Commission’s funding? It’s a fair question to ask.

Last July Mr Mellick wrote, “We are not deaf to the growing public sentiment that the Commission is not fit for purpose. If we are to fulfil our statutory obligations and meet community expectations, our resourcing needs cannot be neglected.”

He called on the current Parliament to properly resource and empower the Integrity Commission to be the watchdog on public authorities and officials that Tasmanians deserve.

Regrettably, it’s the government that holds the purse strings and they’ve prioritised a new, multi-billion dollar stadium at Macquarie Point.

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, also happens to be the Treasurer. This is a choice he made. He needs to explain himself to Tasmanians, and the Commission itself.

Media release – Andrew Jenner, JLN MHR for Lyons, 03 June 2025

Funding for Integrity Commission remains largely unchanged despite pleas for more funding

In a move that shocks no one, the government has chosen to keep under funding the Integrity Commission in this year’s budget.

The Jacqui Lambie Network Member for Lyons, Andrew Jenner, questioned the premier over his government’s decision to continue under funding the Integrity Commission “ Premier, last month I moved a motion calling on the government to commit more funding to the Integrity Commission—an integrity body that is, by national standards, one of the most poorly funded in the country.

“That motion passed, with your government’s support. Yet when I opened the budget paper on Thursday, I saw funding for the integrity commission hadn’t budged for this year and is expected to go down in the forward estimates.

“Premier, is your government deliberately under funding the Integrity Commission to avoid being held to account and can Tasmanians expect to see a fully funded integrity commission while your government is in office?”

The Premier responded by claiming there had been an increase in funding, but he conveniently ignored the fact that funding for the Integrity Commission is actually set to decline over the forward estimates.

He also failed to address the crucial question: will Tasmania’s Integrity Commission be fully funded to the same standard as integrity bodies in other states? Tasmanians deserve an answer.

Mr Jenner stated “what the government has done is incredibly disappointing. How can we, as politicians, be held to account if the body that investigates us is operating with one hand tied behind its back?”

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