Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s abandonment of his promise for an independent review the Integrity Commission shows a lack of commitment to accountability, democracy and transparency.
His reason to break his promise is disingenuous. He made the promise in April last year, as part of his agreement with the then Jacqui Lambie Network trio. But now he says that the Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee on Integrity’s role includes reviewing the Commission’s performance and functions.
He said: “It is the government’s view that the appointment of an independent reviewer to conduct a review of the Integrity Commission may be in conflict with that function.”
Surely, Mr Rockliff knew this when he made the agreement. It’s not as if this information has just become available. It raises the question: did the Premier intend to fulfil his promise?
In 2016 there was an independent review of the commission and in 2017 the government implemented some recommendations. But since then, nothing more has been done and for the past 10 months the government has used the excuse of the promised independent review for its lack of action.
And now we know the government will take no action which has created instability among the independents whose votes Mr Rockliff needs to govern.
Mr Rockliff has given us another reason not to trust politicians when that trust is at an all-time low.