12 July 2024

Premier Rockliff’s announcement this week that the government will implement all the Wiess inquiry recommendations is welcome. One of the recommendations is to change the Integrity Commission’s Act so allegations against police are independently investigated.

The government should take the opportunity to improve the  Commission’s effectiveness. The director of the Centre for Public Integrity, Geoffrey Watson, on 3 May said the commission was “unusually useless”. “It’s produced very little public work at all, it’s never conducted a public hearing and it’s done nothing to expose corruption or prevent corruption. It’s hopeless.”

Its work includes the investigation at least one Tasmanian member of parliament that has been going on for two years. That means voters could’ve elected a member being investigated. That’s essential information voters have a right to know.

In case any MPs were thinking of raising the issue in parliament, the Integrity Commission’s Chief Commissioner, Greg Melick, put paid to that. He warned MPs not to make allegations until the commission investigated.

“Nor should others speculate whether the Commission is undertaking an investigation into a particular person or entity,” Mr Melick said in a media statement the week before parliament resumed in May.

He said the reason for secrecy is to protect the reputations of the subjects of investigation who haven’t been found guilty of misconduct. And Commission staff can “do their jobs without unnecessary public influence or pressure.”

But – as history continually shows – misconduct, corruption and crime thrive in the dark. That’s why a light must be shone on the Commission’s legislative powers. The Commission’s current modus operandi doesn’t

Clause six of the agreement the Jacqui Lambie Network members made with Premier Rockliff on 10 April states that within 12 months: “The Integrity Commission will be reviewed with an eye to giving it greater capability to conduct its work.” With a quarter of the time limit gone, the likelihood of a review of the thoroughness required is not high. It’s more likely the government will tick the review promise box by increasing funding in the September budget. More money will enable to commission to do more but, it needs the power and authority to do it.