PUBLIC INTEGRITY

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:05): I seek leave to make another ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The government is today releasing a white paper that seeks to establish a new and improved system of public integrity designed to strengthen confidence in our state’s institutions. This discussion paper—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Wait and see. Just wait and see. This discussion paper lays out the framework for a better, more integrated public integrity system in this state. The 31 recommendations contained in this white paper include a proposal to create a commissioner for public integrity with the standing powers of a royal commission, and an office of public integrity to act as a single gateway for receiving complaints. It also proposes to enhance the operations via legislative reform of South Australia's existing investigative bodies.

A public integrity office would be a one-stop shop for the initial presentation of complaints from members of the public. It would assess the nature of the complaint and channel it to the appropriate existing agencies, including the Ombudsman, Auditor-General, Police Complaints Authority, Police Anti-Corruption Branch and the Government Investigations Unit.

The proposed commissioner for public integrity would have far-reaching powers to oversee the work of these agencies and, importantly, have the powers to direct and conduct investigations into allegations of criminal corruption where necessary. In the past few years, there has been a call to establish an ICAC in South Australia.

I am not convinced the models we have seen operating in other states are a cost-effective or efficient means of preventing or revealing instances of corrupt activities. I am told that one costs more than $40 million a year to operate. In other states, ICACs have proven not to be a cure-all in upholding and maintaining public integrity in government bodies. Most of them cost tens of millions of dollars a year to run, spend far too much time investigating vexatious claims, and are inefficient.

It would be silly for us, having seen the way other ICACs operate, to blindly follow the same path. South Australia has a range of agencies that deal directly with allegations of maladministration, misconduct or corruption. It is worth reminding the house that since the year 2000, I am advised, there have been charges brought against more than 670 people involving more than 1,300 offences of public corruption, of which many involved convictions and, of course, prison sentences.

I am confident that this blueprint for reform that we are releasing today is the right model for improving the delivery of, and access to, an efficient and effective public integrity system for South Australia. I have made it clear in the past that I believe there should be a national anti-corruption body established by the commonwealth and other states and territories, because corruption, like all crime, does not respect state borders. I still believe that that would be the best model to adopt. However, this was not supported by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.

So in May this year, the Attorney-General announced that he would be reviewing the effectiveness of our existing agencies that deal with matters of corruption and public integrity. The result of that review is this white paper, which identifies ways in which the current system can be improved that are designed to give far greater confidence to the public than any—

Mr PENGILLY: On a point of order, I just bring to your attention the fact that the television cameras are not following the only person on his feet, who happens to be the Premier, apart from me at the moment, but following the member for Bragg around the corridor just then.

The SPEAKER: I have warned the television cameras on a number of occasions that I am getting concerned at the amount of footage that is being shown that is not showing members on their feet, and I would ask them to please abide by the conditions under which they are filming in here. If there are further instances today, then we seriously need to look at whether we allow them into the chamber. Thank you, member for Finniss.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The result of that review is this white paper, which identifies ways in which the current system can be improved and it is designed to give far greater confidence to the public that any possible corruption in our institutions is dealt with thoroughly and comprehensively. I am informed that the cost of implementing these proposed reforms to the system are estimated to cost just under $4 million a year.

During the review, the Attorney-General sought the opinions of a number of statutory officers and bodies which have led to many of the 31 recommendations in the white paper that will now go out for public consultation over the next four months. Following the close of the consultation period, each submission will be reviewed and their input considered in the preparation of a final report and drafting of legislation to present to this parliament.

It is anticipated that a bill will be debated in the second half of next year. That bill will contain a provision that the legislation is reviewed after two years to assess its effectiveness and referred back to parliament. Copies of the white paper are now available on the Attorney-General's Department website and the closing date for submissions from the public will be 25 March 2011.