Page 2141 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 August 2016
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Another, on 27 May, read:
ACT grant to Brumbies shifted to developer.
These are telling headlines, telling not only to me and my colleagues but also to the wider Canberra community.
On another occasion we have seen one of the newest ministers in cabinet tainted by news that as a minister she was briefed on a development proposal by her husband. Headlines relating to Minister Fitzharris having to defend her integrity do nothing to dispel the perception that is out there. Mr Rattenbury has shared his own insight into the perception in the Canberra community around the integrity of this government. He has been quoted as saying:
People do have concerns in the community. You do hear rumours around town.
Yet what action has Minister Rattenbury taken? As we heard in question time today, he was unable to answer this question with any decisive statement that when concerns have been raised with him he has raised them with the appropriate authority. At least members of this place have the perception that in fact Mr Rattenbury has done nothing.
The proposal by Aquis to expand the casino and apply for poker machines has been before the government for several months and concerns have been raised with the government about the University of Canberra sports hub and deals between the ACT government and Aquis. Yet there is no response from this government to these concerns, nothing at all revealed that would serve to dispel the perception that there are too many links between various entities and the government and those on the front bench.
There is a genuine perception in the community that something is fishy, something fishy is going on, on the other side of this parliament. Fifteen years of Labor power-broking and cronyism may well be coming to an end. My view is that in its dying days these unflattering headlines will be what this government is most remembered for. That will be the lasting legacy of the Barr years in power.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Urban Renewal) (4.19): I am pleased to once again have the opportunity to outline the centrality of integrity, ethical behaviour and evidence-based decision-making in government. A strong integrity framework is vital if the government is to be effective in serving the people of Canberra. That is why we have put in place a series of measures that strengthen our governance and decision-making framework, improve community consultation processes and provide for better and earlier release of information and the rationale for government decisions.
The community does have high expectations of all of their elected representatives and, as government ministers, we are rightly held to high standards of accountability and integrity. This place has adopted the Latimer House principles, including:
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