Page 2204 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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Integrity Commission—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MS LEE (Kurrajong) (11.06): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on the Integrity Commission. The committee was established by resolution on 29 November 2018. Among other matters, the terms of resolution (1) (d) require the committee to “monitor, review and report on the performance of the Integrity Commission”.
The Integrity Commission Act 2018 commenced in stages, and by 1 December 2019 had commenced in full. Although the committee has not conducted an inquiry this term under its resolution of appointment and terms of reference, it has monitored, and continues to closely monitor, the Integrity Commission’s operations as a key anticorruption body in the territory. On 9 August 2019, the committee was formally briefed by the Integrity Commissioner. On 25 November 2019, the committee had discussions with both the commissioner and the newly appointed CEO of the commission, and on 15 July 2020 the committee was again formally briefed by the commissioner and the CEO. The committee is able to report the following additional matters as at 15 July 2020, based on those briefings.
The commission has filled a number of senior positions and is continuing in its recruitment of investigative, legal and other essential staff. The commission has also secured a suitable site for its ongoing operations, and work is under way to equip the site to meet the commission’s particular needs under a 10-year lease. The commission has received 79 reports of corruption, conducted eight preliminary inquiries and is conducting two investigations. The commission has identified amendments needed to the Integrity Commission Act 2018 and also to commonwealth legislation. The amendments sought are considered necessary to further clarify the commission’s jurisdiction and support it in its investigative functions. The commission is currently working towards achieving the needed reforms.
Lastly, the commission has begun liaising with other ACT government entities—such as the ACT Judicial Council, the Auditor-General’s Office, the Public Sector Standards Commissioner, the Solicitor-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Elections ACT, the Inspector of Corrections—and the AFP to establish memoranda of understanding between the commission and the entities.
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MS CODY (Murrumbidgee) (11.08): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety for the Ninth Assembly relating to statutory appointments in accordance with continuing resolution 5A. Continuing resolution 5A requires standing committees which consider statutory appointments to report on a six-monthly basis and present a schedule, listing appointments considered during the applicable period. The schedule is required to include the statutory appointments considered, and, for each appointment, the date the request from the responsible minister for consultation was received, and the date the committee’s feedback was provided.
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