Integrity panel plan defended
You can’t turn an economy from recession just over four or five years ago into the strongest performing in the nation by chance — when we came into government surpluses with our disciplined and deliberate policies, when we’ve done a lot to make Tasmania’s economic landscape more attractive and competitive, when we’ve reduced payroll tax so that we’ve got the most competitive payroll tax regimen for any state in the country now for small-tomedium enterprises. We have cut red tape. We have improved planning laws. We have given Tasmanian businesses more government work. We’ve got our budget back into shape so we can pump prime key areas where we’re seeing rapid growth in our economy and we’ve invested a lot into our building and construction sector, which is now booming. We’ve had a 22 per cent rise in apprenticeships so young Tasmanians are getting jobs and I’m being criticised often for turbocharging Tasmania’s tourism industry. But if you look at the economic benefits that have come from an increased investment in marketing our events and into a regional dispersal program and plan that’s getting more of our visitors travelling across our state. These things are really important reforms that are strengthening our economy. SCOTT Morrison has fended off criticism of a proposed national integrity commission, warning against a NSW-style “kangaroo court” model with frequent public hearings.
The Prime Minister announced plans for the commission after months of calls from Labor and the crossbench for a federal anti-corruption watchdog.
While shadow attorneygeneral Mark Dreyfus believes NSW’s ICAC is the blueprint the Government should look to, Mr Morrison is fiercely opposed. He said his home state’s anti-corruption body became a vehicle to sling mud.
Labor, crossbench MPs and prominent barrister Bret Walker SC have raised concerns about the commission’s inability to hold public hearings for politicians and public servants accused of corruption.
Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie savaged the Prime Minister’s plan as “fundamentally flawed and entirely unacceptable”.