If you thought there was strong resistance to a corruption watchdog in Canberra, you should take a look at what’s happening in Adelaide.
Not satisfied with an Independent Commissioner Against Corruption that actually has teeth, the Libs — including MPs who have been under investigation by the watchdog — are trying to dismantle it.
Yesterday the South Australian government voted on a bill that would strip the ICAC of its powers to investigate misconduct and maladministration. This drew a blistering rebuke from ICAC commissioner Ann Vanstone QC, who told a parliamentary hearing it would shield politicians from scrutiny and ultimately allow corruption to go undetected.
If passed through the lower house, it would mean Liberal MPs currently being investigated or charged with offences as a result of an ICAC probe would be able to vote to dismantle the watchdog — an absurd conflict of interest.
What says Premier Steven Marshall? The situation was “completely appropriate”, he reportedly declared yesterday.
How did this come about?
The bill introduced by SA Best’s MLC Frank Pangallo aims to establish an office of the inspector to replace the ICAC reviewer, with enhanced powers to review and oversee the ICAC.
It comes as the government deals with the fallout from a scandal triggered by an investigation by ABC journo Isabel Dayman earlier this year that revealed close to 100 examples of state government website links redirecting users through “stateliberalleader.nationbuilder.com”, a domain operated by the SA Liberal Party.
The government admitted it had been redirecting web users through the data-harvesting platform but said the redirections had “accidentally occurred” and that neither the Liberal Party nor the premier’s office had been aware.
The scheme was referred to the Office of Public Integrity (OPI) yesterday for assessment over potential issues of misconduct or maladministration.
It also comes as the widow of an SA Police chief superintendent — who took his own life during an ICAC investigation but was never accused of corruption — pushes for the anti-corruption body to be reformed.
Conflict of interest
Two SA MPs — former Liberal turned independent Troy Bell and Liberal Fraser Ellis — are facing charges following ICAC investigations, and some other country MPs remain under active investigation over expenses claims, according to the ABC.
Vanstone said it was “extraordinary” that those MPs would be able to vote on a bill that would ultimately restrict ICAC’s powers.
“Where else in this state could such a conflict of interest be tolerated?” she said.
Whether or not the bill is enacted, it’s a damning indictment of where the SA Libs stand on the issue of transparency and accountability.
Berjiklian is taking notes and the shredder is working overtime as the NSW Coalition defunded and almost defanged NSW ICAC lines her up at last. It was too much for the Coalition when ICAC removed their premiers and 10 of his MPs for corruption, Mike Baird went into overdrive as he knew he was already a person of interest and rightly so. He ran a mile back to his banksters and his female counterpart took over the mafia outfit.
Mike Baird did more than that.
He replaced the Commissioner and restructured ICAC before he left.
The final umbrage was charging a prominent SC, a member of the establishment, with influencing the course of justice.
But I think that was merely the excuse he needed at the time.
Like the scorpion, you knew they were Liberals when you voted for them.
There was a unanimous vote in the Legislative Council, this is not just the libs but all members. Started by Frank Pangallo who has vigorously defended the changes. The Attorney General has been silent on this issue, the Commissioner is opposing the changes. We have to ask the question why politicians are so keen to change the system whilst the Commissioner is not. Whose self interest is being served?
Do we detect a strong stench in the corridors at North Terrace? Why meddle with a structure which is designed to uphold ethical behaviour? Unless, of course, the MPs in favour of compromising ICAC are motivated by fear. Why is Frank Pangallo so hellbent on this unnecessary bill?
The real question is “What has Frank Pangallo got to hide?”
Why is it that the Conservative side of Politics dislikes ICACs or similar bodies.
The only valid reason I can think of is that they don’t like being caught out.
As Smirko the clown has often said “There is nothing to see here, move on.”
From the donations from questionable interests, to the sports rorts, then another sports rorts, to an Infrastructure fund with no rules to the rorting of Fire Recovery grants, the Brittany Higgins rape and so the litany proceeds.
Yes, if I was Stephen Marshall I’d think it appropriate for the people being investigated by the watch dog, to vote on the removal of the thorn in his side, wouldn’t you?
Where the LNP goes, accountability and transparency die. Why do they dislike them so much? Is it because they are the ones doing all the rotting?
Still waiting on an ICAC finding for Gladys aren’t we?