14 July 2025

Only 12 of 151 candidates seeking election next Saturday responded to a Tasmanian Constitution Society survey about integrity in politics.

Of the 161 candidates seeking election, the TCS could not find email addresses for 10 of them. Of the 151 emails sent, 20 bounced.

All 12 candidates who responded were independents, including former Liberal government minister Elise Archer. All respondents supported initiatives that included:

• Improving the Integrity Commission’s powers and resources
• Legislating the Commission’s code of conduct for lobbyists
• Further improving the political party donations laws
• Monthly publication and meaningful detail of ministers’ diaries.

No Labor, Liberal or Green party candidates responded to the seven-question survey.

Accountability, integrity and democracy underpin our system of government. By not responding to our survey, and similar ones by other community organisations, the major parties show contempt for those they seek to represent and whose lives they say they want to improve. When integrity is undermined, our system of government is undermined, and people lose faith in it. Democracy is fragile which is why we must do all we can to strengthen it and why it is disappointing most candidates did not answer seven simple questions about it.

About the survey

Candidates were emailed a link to the survey on Sunday, 6 July. It closed at noon on Friday 11 July.

The questions:

1. If elected, what’s your number one priority in the next parliament?
2. If elected, will you introduce a bill, or vote for a bill, that gives effect to the Integrity Commission’s code of conduct for lobbyists?
3. Do you support the mandatory monthly publication of ministers’ diaries that include portfolio-related meetings and events, including date, attendees, purpose, all meetings with lobbyists? If elected, what action will you take to bring this about?
4. Do you support an independent review of the Integrity Commission’s functions, human and financial resources and powers with a view to increasing them? If elected, what action will you take to bring this about?
5. Do you support an independent review of the Integrity Commission’s functions, human and financial resources and powers with a view to increasing them? If elected, what action will you take to bring this about?
6. Do you support improving the Right To Information processes to ensure responses are made within the mandated 20 days and to support the implementation of the Environmental Defenders Office recommendations to improve RTI? If elected, what action will you take to bring this about?
7. If elected, will you vote to support the continuation of the House of Assembly Standing Orders that prohibit government members asking ministers questions in Question Time and place time limits on questions and answers?

The candidates’ responses.

For more information: Neil Spark 0417 352 210. tcsmessage@gmail.com