Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor should stop maligning Tasmania’s hard working public servants.
I call on Ms O’Connor to immediately delay debate calling for a Crime of Public Misconduct, which she planned for debate today during her Private Members time.
The timing is designed to conflate that bill with yesterday’s release of the Integrity Commission report on gifts.
The Integrity Commission report found no evidence gifts to public servants have led to actual or perceived bias.
It was disgraceful for the Greens to link the Integrity Commission report to potential amendments to a crimes bill.
Given her new-found policy of a “no gifts”, Ms O’Connor must explain whether she, or any of her current and former colleagues including now Senator McKim, have ever accepted a gift.
We have a hard-working Tasmanian State Service and they have already acted in response to the IC report and have agreed to implement relevant reforms.
Unlike the Greens, we have confidence that they will act in an appropriate and professional manner.
Guy Barnett, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier
