Page 5143 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
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Funding in the order of $8.4 million over four years has been provided in the budget to establish the commission, which also includes funding for the inspector. The new entity will have approximately 10 staff, including the integrity commissioner, a chief executive officer, counsel assisting and investigative personnel. This reflects the staffing of commissions in other similarly sized jurisdictions, such as Tasmania. I note, responding to the opposition leader’s point earlier on, that this resourcing is very consistent with the election commitment costings that were put forward by parties in the lead-up to the 2016 election. The bill provides for the integrity commission to obtain the services of other specialised personnel or agencies where needed, including policing services in other jurisdictions.
The bill delivers on our election commitment from 2016 and meets the requirements of the parliamentary agreement. I am pleased that we have arrived at this point with, on the bulk of the legislation, tripartisan support. I am confident that with the highest levels of oversight this commission will provide for the ACT community’s confidence in public administration to be further strengthened.
As we go into the detail stage, we will look forward to considering the amendments. But I trust that, wherever the Assembly lands on these specific components, there will continue to be tripartisan support for the bill as a whole. I commend it to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (5.23): I seek leave to move amendments to this bill that have not been circulated in accordance with standing order 178A.
Leave granted.
MR COE: I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 5200]. I understand that there is broad support for this amendment. It will introduce a fixed start date of 1 July.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (5.23): The government is happy to support this amendment to demonstrate our commitment to having the commission operational by 1 July. I note, though, that the government does not obviously have control over the recruitment process for these positions. The commencement date is highly contingent upon the successful recruitment processes that sit in your hands, Madam Speaker.
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