Independents outrage as Government drops Integrity Commission review

A review was once a condition by key independents to support the minority government but it has now been scrapped. One MP has described the move as a ‘load of crock’.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Rob Inglis

The Liberal minority government will return to parliament next week on a razor’s edge as key independent MPs say they have lost faith over broken promises and the growing budget black hole.

Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner said he no longer trusted the government and Braddon independent Craig Garland said he would vote down budget bills unless the state was put on a more sustainable financial footing.

Mr Jenner lashed the government after it abandoned a review of the Integrity Commission it promised to gain his support after the last election.

The state government on Friday abandoned plans to hold an independent review to “beef-up” the powers of the Integrity Commission.

The inquiry was one of the conditions of a deal struck between the Liberals and the Jacqui Lambie Networks then newly elected three MPs after last year’s state election.

Two have since left the party to sit on the crossbench.

“The Premier’s announcement that he has reneged on the undertaking to establish an independent review of the Integrity Commission confirms that neither he nor his government can be trusted,” Mr Jenner said.

“I entered into a post-election agreement with the Premier in good faith, but it is now clear that it was not worth the paper it was written on.”

At the same time, independent MP Craig Garland wrote to Treasurer Guy Barnett vowing to oppose the budget if it contained real cuts to health or education.

“I will not support the 2025-26 budget unless there is clear evidence of decisions … to put … finances on a more stable trajectory,” he wrote.

Friday’s developments mean the government is increasingly reliant on the support of independents David O’Byrne and Kristie Johnston – neither of whom are traditional allies – to pass budget bills, to prevail in confidence motions and to progress legislation.

In return for support in votes of no-confidence and supply and other matters, the government agreed to a range of measures including that “the Tasmanian Integrity Commission will be reviewed with an eye to giving it greater capability to conduct its work”.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced the review would not go ahead on Friday.

The former Jacqui Lambie Network kingmakers of Miriam Beswick, Andrew Jenner, and Rebekah Pentland demanded an independent review. Now only Mr Jenner is a member of the network. Picture: Linda Higginson

“The Integrity Commission Act 2009 provides that it is the function of the Joint Standing Committee on Integrity, to monitor and review the performance and functions of an integrity entity (including the Integrity Commission),” he said.

“It is a further function of the Committee to report to both Houses of Parliament on matters relevant to the performance of an integrity entity’s functions or the exercise of their powers as the Joint Committee considers appropriate.

“It is the government’s view that the appointment of an independent reviewer to conduct a review of the Integrity Commission may be in conflict with that function.

“Furthermore, should an independent reviewer be appointed, there are issues with furnishing any reviewer with access to information for the purposes of undertaking a review.”

Member for Braddon Miriam Beswick said she was disappointed but understood.

“We accept the advice and understand the state government’s decision,” Mrs Beswick said.

“Strengthening Tasmania’s Integrity Commission remains a key objective, and I hope the Joint Standing Committee on Integrity continues to pursue reform.

“Our state needs a robust integrity watchdog that the public can have confidence in.”

Former Supreme Court Justice William Cox conducted an independent review of the Integrity Commission Act in 2016.

Nine years on the government has failed to act on more than 40 of his recommendations for reform.

The Commission is also struggling without its own in-house legal counsel and is locked in a battle with the parliament to be able to access to MP’s emails, which are protected under parliamentary privilege.

Greens member for Hobart Cassy O'Connor.

Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor described the government’s decision as “a load of crock”.

“What Jeremy Rockliff is really saying is that his government doesn’t want the Commission to have the powers or the resources to do its job effectively.

“They know the legislation underpinning the Commission needs fixing, and yet they continue to fail to act.

“Captured as they are by pokies barons, big salmon, developers and other vested interests, this Liberal government is dodgy, and it suits it to hobble the vital work of the Integrity Commission.”

Labor leader Dean Winter said the independents needed to hold their ground.

“These independents don’t hold this premier to account at any time, these independents just continue to allow him to get away with anything,” he said.

“This is their own commitment that they sought, they gained, and now they appear just happy for the Premier to just roll over and not do.”