Page 3222 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 September 2014
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or where a registered lobbyist has breached the ACT lobbying code of conduct, or where an MLA has entertained lobbying activities by a person requiring registration and is not registered. These complaints also relate to staff members of MLAs and persons employed under the Public Sector Management Act 1994.
Finally, this resolution has effect from 1 January 2015 and continues in force unless amended or repealed by this or a subsequent Assembly.
The ACT community has been served well by MLAs in this place, and I have said that a number of times. I think this initiative will enhance the framework available to MLAs to ensure that the citizens of the ACT continue to be well served by MLAs that are guided by these important documents.
Strengthening our integrity framework will build confidence in our system of government but, at the end of the day, it is what we as individual members bring to the job. I look forward to working with MLAs to continue to build community confidence in the work of politicians and the valuable role that we can play in the ACT community.
Should this continuing resolution be passed by the Assembly, I urge all members to educate their staff and make them aware of the register and the supporting guidelines. I will also be writing to the Head of Service to ensure that the broader public service are aware of the register.
I thank all of those who have been involved in this important initiative, including the committee, the Speaker, the Clerk and the Assembly Ethics and Integrity Adviser. I also thank MLAs for their support and for being prepared to strengthen the integrity of the Assembly today.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (11.47): I will start, essentially, where the Chief Minister finished. The broader intent of what we are attempting to do here today is to strengthen integrity measures around this Assembly to make sure that the community have confidence that the executive, the non-executive and all members of this place behave in a way that we would consider consistent with what our community would expect—that is, that we be honest in our dealings and that when any of us make decisions in this place, be they ministers or members of the non-executive, we do so in the best interests of our community and not because of pressure that has been brought to bear by any lobbyist or individual interest group, particularly where financial interests are involved.
We have observed what has happened in other jurisdictions. I agree with the Chief Minister in her assessment that the community can be rightfully proud that the conduct of members of this place of all particular persuasions has been, I think, an exemplar of conduct when it comes to ethical behaviour, integrity and openness of their dealings with regard to any financial benefit that a particular party may seek to take advantage of.
I thank the Chief Minister for bringing this forward. It is prudent that we implement all the measures that we can to make sure that that confidence is maintained. We
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