Page 2783 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 August 1990
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from it which indicates the Government's intentions with respect to that report.
Mr Acting Speaker, I believe - and I should be a bit humble about this - that the committee is to be congratulated on its report and recommendations which are sensible, moderate and comprehensive. I am a bit cautious about saying that because you will note that I was the chairman of this committee at the time that the inquiry was being undertaken.
Mr Wood: We rejected Mr Collaery's suggestions; that is why it is so good.
MR KAINE: Yes, I thought it was an excellent report. Mr Acting Speaker, the Government, which is determined to tackle any possible corruption in the ACT public service - and I use the words, "any possible corruption" advisedly - accepts the vast majority of the committee's recommendations. The Government agrees that a statutory body should be established: to receive allegations or complaints of corrupt conduct involving ACT public officials; to refer those allegations to appropriate investigatory bodies; to receive reports from the investigators; and, to monitor the types of complaints received and their outcomes. The Government agrees that the committee should not have the power to carry out investigations itself. There are already, in our view, a number of competent investigatory bodies in place in the Australian Capital Territory. The committee will have only those powers necessary to ensure that its investigations are carried out in an effective manner, free from political or other interference.
What is required in addition to those bodies, is - as I said when moving the original motion in the Assembly - an intermediary, a community interface, in order to foster and strengthen public confidence that this important issue is being dealt with effectively and honestly. Furthermore, consistent with this Government's commitment to fiscal responsibility, we are not proposing to establish an expensive and cumbersome structure. This committee will meet as and when required.
The members of the committee will be appointed in accordance with the recommendations of an independent body and will be respected members of the community and of good repute. The recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee concerning the administration of this body, the ambit of its powers and its method of operation have all been willingly accepted by this Government. The body will be accountable to the Assembly, through regular reports to the Public Accounts Committee and annual reports to the Assembly itself. Further, in order to ensure that the body is functioning effectively, a review of its operations will be carried out after two years.
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