Tasmania’s integrity framework is stronger following the Greens’ successful move to amend the Integrity Commission Act 2009 to better capture Members of Parliament. The Greens’ amendment requires MPs to make mandatory notifications to the Integrity Commission of misconduct by Members of Parliament.
The government’s Bill requires MPs to notify the Integrity Commission if they have grounds to suspect misconduct or serious misconduct from themselves or their staff. The bill left a gap that meant MPs weren’t fully captured by the misconduct reporting requirements. It’s absurd to expect MPs would report their own misconduct.
The background for requiring mandatory notifications about matters of serious misconduct lies with the Cox Review and was strongly reinforced by the Commission of Inquiry. It is important to change a culture where bystanders have historically failed to report misconduct.
The Greens’ amendment makes MPs responsible to be mandatory notifiers of other MPs who breach public trust and engage in misconduct. This amendment was based on ACT legislation, which also makes MPs mandatory notifiers of other MPs.
Our amendments will ensure that where an MP has reasonable grounds for suspecting another MP has committed misconduct or serious misconduct, they will have to report it to our integrity watchdog. These amendments will create a stronger culture of integrity within Parliament. It passed unopposed through the House of Assembly.
While this bill is long overdue, we welcome its passage through the lower house of Parliament. The Greens will work to support its passage through the upper house, in the interests of a strong democracy and holding all who have the privilege of being elected to office accountable for their conduct.
