Premier defends timing of register

UNIONS and the Opposition have questioned why it has taken five years for the state government to act on a government-wide public servants’ register.

As reported by the Mercury (right) a leaked document has confirmed a register naming Tasmanian public servants who have been terminated for Code of Conduct breaches will be set up this week – five years after it was recommended by the Integrity Commission.

The document, seen by the Mercury, outlines procedures for the internal register, which will list not only public servants who have been terminated but also those who would have been terminated if they had not resigned.

It will be effective from July 8, but include public servants terminated since 2017.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the register was part of the government’s response to the current commission of inquiry.

“There has been significant progress and I look forward to that of course being implemented sooner rather than later,” Mr Rockliff said. Community and Public Sector Union general secretary Thirza White said it should not have taken five years for the government to act on creating the internal register.

“It’s clear from the harrowing evidence provided at the commission of inquiry that the processes, systems and tools in place across the state service for dealing with inappropriate conduct are not fit for purpose. This is not news to anyone who is working in this space and it’s time they were reformed and modernised,” she said.

Ms White said there was a “vital” need to balance keeping people safe against a person’s right to procedural fairness.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said there was no doubt that accountability and integrity in the state service needed to improve.