THE head of Tasmania’s Integrity Commission has slammed the state government’s proposal to scrap the corruption watchdog’s investigative powers, saying it will plunge the state back into the ‘‘bad old days’’. The government said the commission has proven inefficient and ineffective, arguing it be stripped of its investigative arm and instead left to concentrate on educating public servants about preventing misconduct. Integrity Commission chief executive Diane Merryfull told a parliamentary committee on integrity yesterday that it was obvious the government was trying to shut the watchdog down. ‘‘The government’s submission is long on rhetoric and short on evidence, and makes it clear that in general it does not favour or like integrity bodies,’’ Ms Merryfull said. ‘‘From our perspective it’s no coincidence that as soon as the commission starts to get some runs on the board in respect of its investigations, and as it starts to put information out into the community about the misconduct that it is finding, the response is to shut it down,’’ she said. Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin denied the government was pushing to abolish the commission. ‘‘What we’re saying is that we don’t think the current process is working well,’’ Dr Goodwin said. ‘‘We’re not getting value for money, there’s duplication of effort, and there’s not a speedy response to complaints.’’ Dr Goodwin said many complaints the commission received were already referred onto agencies or other oversight authorities to action, and that should be extended to all complaints. But Ms Merryfull said claims of duplication were nonsense, arguing those bodies did not hold the same powers as the commission. She said the idea that state service employers could be left to deal with allegations of misconduct those bodies did not hold the same powers as the commission. She said the idea that state service employers could be left to deal with allegations of misconduct were ‘‘naive and self-serving". serving’’. ‘‘We can get information that agencies simply lawfully cannot . . . who’s going to get that information if we don’t?’’ Ms Merryful said. ‘‘Without the commission things will go undetected, and we have proven that.’’ Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim said the government’s proposed reforms were appalling. ‘‘Clearly in Tasmania we’ve got a majority government that wants absolute power and is very uncomfortable with authorities that can exercise really vital checks and balances against its authority,’’ Mr McKim said. ‘‘We have to ask ourselves what the government is trying to hide and why it is attacking the integrity commission.’’ Earlier, Police Association of Tasmania president Pat Allen said his union would not like to see the commission’s powers increased. ‘‘We still support the Integrity Commission doing what it’s doing at the moment,’’ Mr Allen said. He said the union would not necessarily argue against the removal of the commission’s investigative powers, but had not yet formed an official position. The standing committee will meet again later this month, before presenting a report to Parliament by the end of this year.
THE head of Tasmania’s Integrity Commission has slammed the state government’s proposal to scrap the corruption watchdog’s investigative powers, saying it will plunge the state back into the ‘‘bad old days’’.
The government said the commission has proven inefficient and ineffective, arguing it be stripped of its investigative arm and instead left to concentrate on educating public servants about preventing misconduct.
Integrity Commission chief executive Diane Merryfull told a parliamentary committee on integrity yesterday that it was obvious the government was trying to shut the watchdog down.
‘‘The government’s submission is long on rhetoric and short on evidence, and makes it clear that in general it does not favour or like integrity bodies,’’ Ms Merryfull said.
‘‘From our perspective it’s no coincidence that as soon as the commission starts to get some runs on the board in respect of its investigations, and as it starts to put information out into the community about the misconduct that it is finding, the response is to shut it down,’’ she said.
Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin denied the government was pushing to abolish the commission.
‘‘What we’re saying is that we don’t think the current process is working well,’’ Dr Goodwin said.
‘‘We’re not getting value for money, there’s duplication of effort, and there’s not a speedy response to complaints.’’
Dr Goodwin said many complaints the commission received were already referred onto agencies or other oversight authorities to action, and that should be extended to all complaints.
But Ms Merryfull said claims of duplication were nonsense, arguing those bodies did not hold the same powers as the commission.
She said the idea that state service employers could be left to deal with allegations of misconduct those bodies did not hold the same powers as the commission.
She said the idea that state service employers could be left to deal with allegations of misconduct were ‘‘naive and self-serving". serving’’.
‘‘We can get information that agencies simply lawfully cannot . . . who’s going to get that information if we don’t?’’ Ms Merryful said.
‘‘Without the commission things will go undetected, and we have proven that.’’
Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim said the government’s proposed reforms were appalling.
‘‘Clearly in Tasmania we’ve got a majority government that wants absolute power and is very uncomfortable with authorities that can exercise really vital checks and balances against its authority,’’ Mr McKim said.
‘‘We have to ask ourselves what the government is trying to hide and why it is attacking the integrity commission.’’
Earlier, Police Association of Tasmania president Pat Allen said his union would not like to see the commission’s powers increased.
‘‘We still support the Integrity Commission doing what it’s doing at the moment,’’ Mr Allen said.
He said the union would not necessarily argue against the removal of the commission’s investigative powers, but had not yet formed an official position.
The standing committee will meet again later this month, before presenting a report to Parliament by the end of this year.
