Page 2559 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 1 August 2018

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The government’s failure to support Mrs Dunne’s motion this morning demonstrates once again the reluctance of this Labor-Greens government to promote transparency and suggests that they are unwilling to protect ACT public servants. While Minister Rattenbury claimed this morning that there are sufficient mechanisms in place to address bullying in ACT Health, it is clear that these mechanisms are not working. It is blatantly obvious that individuals in this territory are deterred from making reports, a culture which, if we are to maintain a transparent and honest public sector, must change. The Labor Party, who claim to be the party of the workers, have yet again demonstrated that they are not concerned with the workers of ACT Health.

If the government are at all interested in protecting ACT public servants, they will support this motion.

MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (4.55): I am sorry, Miss Burch, but the government will not be supporting your motion today, and I move the amendment circulated in my name:

Omit all text after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

(1) notes that:

(a) the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012 plays a major role in the ACT public sector integrity framework;

(b) the Act is a best practice model for managing disclosures and protecting genuine whistle-blowers; and

(2) further notes:

(a) the Public Sector Standards Commissioner provides effective oversight of public interest disclosure investigations and coordinates related education and training programs to ACT public servants;

(b) the Public Disclosure Act 2012 and the Public Interest Disclosure Guidelines 2017 provide effective mechanisms to foster a pro-reporting culture within the ACT Government when misconduct is suspected;

(c) the Public Disclosure Act 2012 and the Public Interest Disclosure Guidelines 2017 clearly articulate the protections received from reprisal that result from the disclosure; and

(d) the Public Sector Standards Commissioner reports on public interest disclosures through the annual State of the Service Report, which includes compliance of directorates and public sector bodies with provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act and the number of public interest disclosures notified by directorate or public sector body;

(3) acknowledges that the Government agreed to Recommendation 78 of the Select Committee’s Inquiry into an Independent Integrity Commission to appoint an independent person to conduct a statutory review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act; and

(4) calls on the Government to:

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