Government-controlled committee fails to back calls for Integrity change

A government-controlled committee has refused to ­openly support calls to boost the autonomy of the state’s Integrity Commissioner by allowing the official to manage its own staff.

A government-controlled committee has refused to ­support calls to boost the autonomy of the state’s Integrity Commissioner by allowing the official to manage its own staff.

The parliamentary committee has instead merely noted suggestions that there should be a formally established Office of the Integrity Commissioner as a way to make the role more independent.

And members have dismissed calls for the definition of lobbyist to be widened, despite a range of stakeholders – including the Crime and Corruption Commission – suggesting that it should happen.

The Economics and Governance Committee, headed by Labor MP Linus Power, tabled its report late on Friday, detailing its response to the strategic review into the functions of the Integrity Commissioner.

Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov. Picture: Liam Kidston

The initial review, which was conducted by Kevin Yearbury, recommended that the independence of the Integrity Commissioner should be enhanced by essentially giving the position more control over its own staff.

The recommendation, which was backed in by current Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov, would pave the way for the office to have more independence from the Public Service Commission.

Despite Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also previously indicating she did not have any problem with Mr Yearbury’s proposals, the committee simply noted the recommendation instead of openly backing it.

Dr Stepanov had in the past suggested the current governance arrangements of her office impacted the role’s independence and had called for major changes as a “matter of urgency”.

Meanwhile, the committee also rejected suggestions from some government relations firms and the CCC that the definition of a lobbyist be widened so that it captures “in-house lobbyists”.

Ms Palaszczuk had also previously indicated there was a “blurring” of the current lobbying rules.

Kevin Yearbury. Picture: Liam Kidston.

In making its findings, the committee pointed to Mr Yearbury’s review, which had suggested the interests of in-house lobbyists, who represent a company or organisation, was self-evident.

Hawker Britton director Elliot Stein last night said they were disappointed that the committee had “adopted the status quo”.

“We agree with the Premier’s public comments that there are ‘grey areas’ in the current laws,” he said.

“We were hopeful that the committee would seek to address these grey areas and adopt recommendations first suggested by Peter Coaldrake in 2015.

“Sadly, that was not to be.”

The committee also simply noted Mr Yearbury’s call for more detailed information to be provided in ministerial diaries about the purpose of meetings that ministers held in a bid to boost transparency.