Cassy O’Connor says Integrity Commission is being starved of funding to do its job

In the wake of Thursday’s state budget, the Greens have highlighted a funding cut to the Integrity Commission. Read their concerns.

Greens member for Hobart Cassy O’Connor says Integrity Commission is being starved of funding to do its job

The Tasmanian Greens have lashed the government’s funding cut to the Integrity Commission saying it is being “wilfully underfunded” and remains the lowest funded integrity body in Australia.

But the government says it has “consistently increased” funding to the commission in the past 10 years.

Greens MLC for Hobart Cassy O’Connor said despite Chief Commissioner, Greg Mellick SC AO, warning that it was not funded to properly do its work the Commission faced cuts in the next four years.

Cassy O'Connor Greens member for Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The Integrity Commission is our watchdog on public authorities and public officials and it needs to be properly resourced to uphold high standards of ethical conduct in public office,” she said.

“It has a really important, educative role, but it also undertakes inquiries and investigations.

“It’s a matter of public record that two Liberal MPs are the subject of long-running Integrity Commission investigations.

“It is reasonable to ask whether the Integrity Commission is being deliberately starved of its funding because it’s a thorn in the government’s side.

“Why else would the government keep the Integrity Commission on starvation rations when they know we’ve got the lowest funded Integrity commission in the country by the Rockliff Government?”

Ms O’Connor said Mr Mellick’s pleas in his annual report and in evidence to a parliamentary inquiry “have fallen on deaf ears”.

“In terms of what the Integrity Commission needed, or needs, to be able to properly do its work, it is small change in the context of a global state budget of billions and billions of dollars,” she said.

“Regrettably, it’s the government that holds the purse strings and they’ve prioritised a new, multi-billion dollar stadium at Macquarie Point.”

Ms O’Connor said Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, who was also the Treasurer needed to explain his funding decision to Tasmanians and the Integrity Commission.

A government spokesman said increased funding in the past decade showed the government valued the Integrity Commission’s work, “respects its independence, and have every confidence in its ability to undertake its duties”.

“We will continue to support the Integrity Commission and ensure it is able meet the needs of the community,” the government spokesman said.

Labor’s treasury spokesman, Josh Willie, said he had concerns that the government lacked transparency and integrity.

“Not funding the Integrity Commission to do the work that they need to do is just an example,” he said.

Originally published as Cassy O’Connor says Integrity Commission is being starved of funding to do its job