New chief for Tasmanian Integrity Commission announced
A Sydney lawyer has been appointed to head the Tasmanian Integrity Commission, replacing Michael Easton, Attorney-General Guy Barnett announced on Friday.
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A Sydney lawyer has been appointed to head the Tasmanian Integrity Commission, Attorney-General Guy Barnett announced on Friday.
Ellen McKenzie joins what its chief commissioner describes as “the most underfunded integrity body in the country” as it struggles with a unaddressed deficiencies in its governing legislation and long-running but unresolved investigations into state MPs.
Ms McKenzie has more than 30 years experience in private practice, for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and for the NSW Law Society, Mr Barnett said.
She replaces Michael Easton, who left in April for “personal and lifestyle reasons”.
Julia Hickey has been acting CEO in the interim.
Ms McKenzie joins the Commission as it struggles with long-term government underfunding and unwillingness to address serious deficiencies in its governing legislation.
Chief Commissioner Greg Melick told a Parliamentary Committee last week the Commission didn’t have enough money to do the work it was allocated or the new work arising out of the Weiss review into Tasmania Police.
“We get about half what the ACT and the Northern Territory get, and they have smaller populations and smaller public services to deal with,” he said.
Eight years since the Cox Review of the Integrity Commission Act, the government has failed to act on more than 40 of its recommendations for reform to the Commission’s legislation.
The Commission is also struggling without its own in-house legal counsel and is locked in a struggle with the parliament to be able to access to MP’s emails, which are protected under parliamentary privilege.
Mr Barnett welcomed Ms McKenzie to the role.
“Ms McKenzie has a strong professional interest in ethics, administrative decision making and effective case management, all of which align closely with the role of the Integrity Commission.
“Ms McKenzie’s appointment by the Governor follows a recommendation from the Premier made after consultation with the Joint Standing Commission on Integrity as required under the Integrity Commission Act 2009.
The Commission has two long-running investigations into state MPs, both dating back to 2022.
Investigation Loyetea is examining “a number of allegations that an elected representative failed to declare and manage a conflict of interest”.
Investigation Olegas is looking into claims that a grants program improperly used public funds to pursue electoral goals and that conflicts of interest were not properly declared.
The state government promised a review of the Commission as part of its deal with the Jacquie Lambie Network MPs after the state election. that pledge remains in place.
No details of the inquiry have yet been announced.
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