Page 2147 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 August 2016
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Now that the Liberal Party have asked me what people have said to me—and I was not planning to come in here and repeat rumours because I do not think that is a very healthy thing to do—and have twisted my words from today’s debate about what I said in question time, let us be honest about what some of that community disquiet has been. It is about the ACT Liberal Party receiving donations from New South Wales developers and people wondering why that is happening. They are the sorts of rumours and innuendo that people have raised with me. Mr Hanson has been subpoenaed about a suppressed document. These are the sorts of rumours that swirl around to me. The Liberal Party come in here and say, “Well, why don’t you tell us what the rumours are?” I generally choose not to bring them forward, but they are the sorts of things that, if they want to twist my words, I will reflect back to this chamber as the sorts of things the community has raised with me.
The bottom line for the Greens is that, when it comes to integrity, the aim of the game is prevention. That is the view of the experts. It is the premise on which the New South Wales independent commission has been set up and the basis on which the Tasmanian Integrity Commission operates. The Tasmanian case is a particularly good example. A key part of their role is an educative role. It is a preventative role about working with government agencies to make sure they understand the way the rules work, to maintain standards in the public service and to make sure that they are skilled and equipped so that if somebody does try to do the wrong thing, the public servants are well prepared for that.
That is the basis on which we have made the policy announcements that we have made. It is a proactive strategy and a reactive strategy. It is a proactive strategy to ensure that we are operating at the best levels of integrity we possibly can and a reactive strategy so that, if rumours or accusations are made, there is a suitable forum in which to argue that case.
We should always ensure that these processes are robust and in place, preferably to avoid and mitigate corruption before it happens as well as investigate it in cases where it does happen or seems likely. Political donations, close relationships and poor culture can all lead public officials and politicians into the kind of behaviour that diminishes the trust the public have in government processes. The Greens want the community to have confidence in every part of government in the ACT, so we must put in place the processes that ensure that the kind of rumour and innuendo that the Canberra Liberals are happy to peddle have a forum where they can actually be investigated. Right now I doubt that the Canberra Liberals would have any substantive allegations to make because, if they did, I assume they would have taken them to the appropriate forum.
Mr Coe: How do you know we haven’t?
MR RATTENBURY: The Canberra Liberals have come in here today and had a go at me, and all I have said is, “I hear some things around town.” We have now got Mr Coe interjecting across the chamber suggesting that they do have the evidence. Well, let us hear it. If you think you have got it, let us hear it.
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