Page 2361 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2022
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dedicate proper resources and time to it. I urge all members in this chamber to support my motion today.
MR BRADDOCK (Yerrabi) (10.58): I would like to thank the Leader of the Opposition for the opportunity to talk today about integrity matters. The Greens were the first party to announce an election commitment to the Integrity Commission in the lead-up to the 2016 election. We strongly support the commission and its operations to ensure that integrity is maintained here in the ACT. We have supported all parts of the ACT integrity framework, including the Commissioner for Standards, the code of conduct, the Integrity Commission and other entities that help to maintain integrity across all our public bodies here in the ACT.
Ms Lee’s motion goes to matters which I wholeheartedly support. This includes the statement that integrity in Canberra’s public institutions is essential. I could not agree more. There are opportunities to continuously improve Canberra’s integrity system. I note that the review of the Integrity Commission Act is underway and there are proposals to amend the Integrity Commission’s legislation, which I look forward to reviewing.
I must admit that some of its other contents were a surprise, because I sit on the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, which Mr Cain and Dr Paterson, who are here today, also do. It is a committee which is chaired in accordance with the Latimer House principles, in the form of, formerly, Mr Hanson, and now Mr Cain, on behalf of the Canberra Liberals. I am surprised because I have heard no feedback before now that the committee has been in any way remiss or falling short in its oversight of integrity matters. I invite the Leader of the Opposition, or indeed any member of this Assembly who has a view that the JACS committee is not adequately fulfilling its functions, to please let us know so that we may review, reflect and remedy any shortfalls that may have occurred.
As Ms Lee noted, JACS does have responsibility for the oversight of many other bodies, many of which relate to integrity matters. These include the ACT Ombudsman, policing, gaming, the Attorney-General, human rights, and the Public Trustee and Guardian. So this gives the committee a comprehensive view of integrity matters across the ACT. I acknowledge that the Auditor-General reports to PAC and the Commissioner for Standards reports to admin and procedure, so I will say that it is not a complete or perfect position. But I do say that any further dilution of integrity matters to yet another committee will not assist it.
I heard the Leader of the Opposition’s proposal for a standalone committee, which has a simple allure to it. But what I have not heard is what this standalone committee will do that is not currently being performed by the JACS committee.
Ms Lee: Were you listening to my speech?
MR BRADDOCK: I was listening, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms Lee: Clearly not.
MR BRADDOCK: And did you articulate exactly what JACS is not doing that it
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