A report by the Integrity Commission has recommended changes to the laws governing how Members of Parliament disclose their personal interests.
The reforms, outlined in a report tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament today, involve widening the information Members of Parliament are obliged to disclose, including the assets of dependent children.
Chief Commissioner Greg Melick said the proposed amendments would simplify the disclosure process for Tasmania’s parliamentarians and increase transparency.
“The Integrity Commission has conducted a review of the system governing parliamentarians’ disclosures and a detailed audit of a sample of the disclosures themselves,” Commissioner Melick said.
“We have suggested only minor changes to the disclosure framework and found small issues in terms of the disclosures.
“Under our proposed changes it would be a requirement that parliamentarians disclose the activities of any trusts of which they are the beneficiary – something they are not presently required to do.”
Another change would be requiring Members of Parliament to update their disclosure of interests within 28 days of any change.
“Under the current framework a member could dramatically change their declarable interests, but the public must wait until the end of the financial year to know,” Commissioner Melick said.
The audit of disclosures made by 5 Members of Parliament chosen randomly from each House uncovered issues with the information provided by 2 members, relating to their respective spouses. The Commission concluded these errors were unintentional and relatively minor, and did not amount to misconduct warranting further action.
“While our audit uncovered failures to make full disclosure of relatively minor issues by 2 members, the Commission has queried these issues with those involved and accepted these were the result of an error. No further action is required by the Commission on these disclosures,” Commissioner Melick said.
The Chief Commissioner said that, while the Register is important, it is only one part of the Parliamentary Integrity Framework.
“The Register must not be the sole mechanism available to members to meet their public office and transparency obligations. It includes making declarations of interest in Cabinet decisions and those on the floor of the House.
“Transparent decision‑making provides Tasmanians with confidence that elected representatives are acting in the best interests of the community when making decisions and allocating funding.”
Media release by Greg Melick AO SC Chief Commissioner
Media contact
Lachlan Thompson, Team Leader Research and Evaluation
lachlan.thompson@integrity.tas.gov.au
Ph: 1300 720 289