The Chief Minister has announced that the ACT’s new Integrity Commission is to come into force on 1 July 2019.
Charged with the task of overseeing Government decision making and investigating allegations of corrupt conduct in the public sector, the new Commission follows consultation with the community, stakeholders and members of the Legislative Assembly.
Announcing that the enabling legislation had passed the Assembly, Chief Minister, Andrew Barr (pictured) said the result would be an Integrity Commission modelled on best practice resulting from study of similar entities operating around Australia.
“The new Commission will have the ability to investigate matters that were subject to a previous inquiry, investigate matters related to judicial officers — while respecting the independence of the judiciary and the importance of separation of powers,” Mr Barr said.
“The legislation also requires mandatory reporting by all senior Public Servants, Members of the Legislative Assembly and Chiefs of Staff to Ministers and the Leader of the Opposition.”
He said the Commission would be the first in Australia to introduce a criminal offence for a failure by mandatory reporters to notify it of serious or systemic corrupt conduct.
“This sends a very clear message to ACT public sector leaders that the obligation rests on them to maintain the highest ethical standards for themselves and the people that report to them,” Mr Barr said.
He said a ban on property developer donations to any party represented in the Assembly had also been introduced – a measure that would bring the ACT into line with other State and Territory Governments.
“The Electoral Reform Amendment Act introduced by Minister Ramsay will also close other loopholes potentially used to circumvent the spirit of election rules,” Mr Barr said.
“The Government has also requested the Assembly Administration and Procedure Committee to report on the best way to expand the scope of the lobbyist register,” he said.
