Page 2365 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 31 July 2018

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31 December, the committee considered five statutory appointments to the Territory Records Advisory Council.

Madam Speaker, I present the following paper:

Public Accounts—Standing Committee—Schedule of Statutory Appointments—9th Assembly—Period 2016 and 2017.

Integrity Commission Bill 2018—exposure draft

Reference

MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (10.54): Madam Speaker, for the information of members, I present an exposure draft of the Integrity Commission Bill 2018, together with a draft explanatory statement. Pursuant to standing order 214, I move:

That the exposure draft of the Integrity Commission Bill 2018 be referred to the Select Committee on an Independent Integrity Commission 2018 for inquiry and report, in accordance with the resolution of the Assembly of 6 June 2018 which established the Committee.

I table the exposure draft of the Integrity Commission Bill 2018, which establishes the ACT integrity commission. The establishment of the commission delivers on an election commitment, and a commitment in the parliamentary agreement of the Ninth Legislative Assembly. The government’s response to the Select Committee on an Independent Integrity Commission report informed the policy development of the exposure draft. In support of these commitments, the government is appropriating funding of $8.4 million over four years in the 2018-19 budget to establish the ACT integrity commission, prior to legislation being passed by the Assembly, to minimise the risk of any potential delays.

Through the policy development process, the government carefully considered each of the 79 recommendations of the select committee report. The government has since agreed, or agreed in part, to 63 recommendations which have been incorporated into the exposure draft. Eleven recommendations have been agreed in principle and five are noted.

The exposure draft establishes the commission to investigate corruption in public administration and to strengthen public confidence in government integrity. The exposure draft covers public servants, members of the Legislative Assembly and their staff, and other people.

The ACT integrity commission will be independent and led by an officer of the Legislative Assembly appointed by the Speaker. Importantly, the exposure draft also establishes an inspector who will be appointed by the Speaker. The inspector’s main role will be to assess and report on the commission’s legislative compliance, particularly in relation to its coercive investigative powers.


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