Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim MP indicated today that if the government’s submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Integrity is acted on, it would mean the effective abolition of Tasmanian’s key integrity authority.
“The government is sending an appalling message to the Tasmanian public service that it is simply not interested in public sector integrity” said Mr McKim.
“The government has got its majority and now wants to remove the powers of one of the key organisations that can hold it to account” Mr McKim said.
“Exactly what has got Premier Hodgman so worried that he wants to abolish Tasmania’s key integrity authority? What does he have to hide?” asked Mr McKim.
”The Liberals spent years campaigning for an Integrity Commission after finally catching up with Greens’ policy, and the only thing that has changed is that they have now been voted into government” said Mr McKim.
“We risk a return to the bad old days in Tasmania, where concerns of corruption and misconduct at the highest levels were swept under the carpet and dealt with behind closed doors” said Mr McKim.