Page 2031 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2018
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Wednesday, 6 June 2018
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms J Burch) took the chair at 10 am, made a formal recognition that the Assembly was meeting on the lands of the traditional custodians, and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
Visitors
MADAM SPEAKER: Members, before I call the Clerk, it is worth acknowledging the schoolchildren in the Assembly today. Holy Trinity Primary School, welcome to the Assembly.
Anti-corruption and Integrity Commission Bill 2018
Mr Coe, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (10.02): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am pleased to table this significant piece of legislation which again emphasises the Canberra Liberals’ commitment to integrity in the ACT. Canberra needs an anti-corruption and integrity commission. Whether it be actual or perceived corruption, there is no doubt that there are concerns in our community. Whilst these concerns may not be as widespread as those we have seen in other jurisdictions in the past, we must not be complacent and we must accept that where there is power and money, there must be integrity.
Whilst other commissions have had problems with oversight and prioritisation, I believe we can get the balance here right in the ACT. Of course, in the lead-up to the 2016 election, the Liberals, Greens and Labor all agreed that Canberra needed and should get an anti-corruption commission.
The Select Committee on an Independent Integrity Commission was established on 15 December 2016 to “inquire into the most effective and efficient model of an independent integrity commission for the ACT”. The committee unanimously recommended that:
… the ACT Government establish a standing ACT independent integrity body to investigate corruption in public administration and strengthen public confidence in government integrity.
The final report of the committee was presented to the Assembly on 31 October last year. It contained 79 recommendations relating to jurisdictional matters, relationships with other integrity stakeholders, the power to hold public meetings, accountability
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