Ministerial Statement

PUBLIC INTEGRITY

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Tourism) (16:19): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I seek leave to make a ministerial statement in relation to an update on the public integrity issue. As I have previously informed the house, the government has sought both to drive the creation of a national anti-corruption body as well as reviewing and improving our own state structures. As I told the house in May, I wrote to my ministerial colleagues on the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General on 15 April this year seeking to raise the matter of a national anti-corruption body. I travelled to Melbourne for a meeting of the standing committee on 7 May and outlined the government's view. I will not comment on what was said at that meeting; however, media reports of comments made by other ministers indicate that there is little support for establishing a national anti-corruption body in the foreseeable future.

I have given consideration to the current climate South Australia faces in relation to the prospects of a national anti-corruption body. I accept that our efforts to establish a national body are most unlikely to be successful. In my statement of 6 May, I also informed the house that I would review the operation and effectiveness of South Australia's public integrity system with a view to improving any imperfections that this review may identify.

On 12 May this year, I wrote to a number of interested parties to seek their views about the public integrity framework here in South Australia. These parties included a number of statutory officers and bodies which play a role in the system. I invited parties to make a submission about any improvements or changes they believe would strengthen and enhance the public integrity structures in South Australia and aid public confidence in the system.

The closing date of 14 June for the receipt of these submissions has now passed and my department is considering the content of the submissions received. I expect that some late submissions will be received and these will also be considered. I recognise that there may be contributors who may not wish their submissions to be put in the public domain for a variety of legitimate reasons. I respect this and I do not consider that it is for me or my department to release these submissions or identify contributors, particularly as I do not know to what extent, if at all, these submissions were prepared on a confidential basis.

After considering these submissions, taking advice from my department and further consultation, I intend to report to cabinet and this parliament about my conclusions and any proposals for improvement that may arise. I will not now pre-empt the outcome of this review by speculating on what proposals will arise. As I have indicated, my review of South Australia's public integrity framework is now well underway. Any recommendations I take to cabinet will be based on the need to maintain and enhance public integrity and community confidence in public administration in South Australia.