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The State Opposition
will again move to establish an Anti-corruption
Commission when State Parliament resumes, which is
scheduled for next month.
The Leader of the
State Opposition, Will Hodgman, said after the
events that recently have engulfed Premier Lennon
and his Government, the State Opposition will
again push for an independent Anti-corruption
Commission and a Commissioner for Parliamentary
Standards.
Mr Hodgman attempted
to establish these independent authorities last year
during the scandalous TCC affair and the Labor Party
used its numbers to defeat it.
“These bodies, which
exist in other jurisdictions, would allow for the
independent investigation of serious issues
concerning governance and accountability,” Mr
Hodgman said.
“It would also
increase public confidence which has been severely
damaged under Mr Lennon.
“Remarkably, the
Lennon Government voted against the proposal in
Parliament last year, indicating it cannot live up
to the Premier's commitment to greater transparency
and accountability.”
Mr Hodgman believes there should be:
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an independent Anti-Crime and Corruption
Commission to investigate instances of public
sector corruption in Tasmania, to protect the
public interest and prevent breaches of public
trust; and |
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the Lennon Government should refer to the Select
Committee on the
Working
Arrangements of the Parliament the establishment
of an independent Parliamentary Standards
Commissioner to report to the
Parliament
and the people on matters relating to the proper
operations of the Parliament. |
“A Parliamentary Standards
Commissioner would have key responsibilities
including receiving and investigating complaints
about Members in breach of a Parliamentary Code of
Conduct,” he said.
“Furthermore this person could tackle
an area that the Lennon Government has made an
art-form of, that is dismissing as politically
motivated or using a smokescreen to cover up the
actions of the Premier and its Ministers.”
An Office of the Parliamentary
Commissioner for Standards had been set up by the
House of Commons in 1995.
Notwithstanding the State
Government’s previous rejection of the move, Mr
Hodgman, will again pass the motion to set up the
independent watchdog when Parliament resumes.
“Tasmania deserves much better than
it is getting. And I am firmly committed to lifting
standards to the highest level, even if the Premier
isn't,” he said.
Ends
Further information:
Jay Pleass - 0400 904 892
Ref…anti-corruptioncommission.mar2403jp
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