Page 2359 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2022

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(c) the Australian Capital Territory is the only state or territory jurisdiction in Australia without a dedicated parliamentary committee on integrity;

(2) amends the resolution of the Assembly of 2 December 2020, as amended, which established general purpose standing committees, by omitting “ACT Integrity Commission” from the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety’s area of responsibility; and

(3) establishes a Standing Committee on Integrity, with the following terms of reference:

(a) monitor and report on the performance of the Integrity Commission and the Inspector of the Integrity Commission, or the exercise of the powers and functions of the Integrity Commission and the Inspector of the Integrity Commission, including examining the annual reports of the Integrity Commission and the Inspector of the Integrity Commission and any other reports they make;

(b) inquire into and report on integrity matters referred to it by the Assembly or that are considered by the Committee to be of concern to the community;

(d) perform all functions required of it pursuant to the Integrity Commission Act 2018;

(e) the Committee be composed of:

(i) two Members to be nominated by the Coalition Government; and

(ii) two Members to be nominated by the Opposition;

to be notified in writing to the Speaker within two hours of this motion passing; and

(f) the chair shall be an Opposition Member.

Today, and not for the first time, I am calling on all members in the chamber to stand up for transparency, accountability and integrity in government. Today I am calling on all members of this chamber to support my motion to establish a standing committee on integrity. Integrity in our public institutions is essential. I do not think anyone could disagree with that.

Now, more than ever, at a time of political uncertainty around the world, it is our duty to provide Canberrans with confidence in the integrity of what is happening in the ACT government. Now, more than ever, with Labor having been in power for more than 20 years, it is our duty to provide Canberrans with trust in the integrity of what is happening in the ACT government. Now, more than ever, with serious issues being raised about ACT government procurement, it is our duty to provide Canberrans with faith in the integrity of what is happening in the ACT government.

At the best of times, decisions made by government are beyond the reach of the vast majority of our community—whether it is the unfamiliarity of process, the layers of bureaucracy, the bubble of jargon that is known to a privileged few, barriers through culture, language or disability, or the simple fact that most Canberrans are busy working hard and have put trust in their government to make decisions that are in their best interests. Many in our community do and should expect that decisions made for

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