Cox: Past Govt projects to be investigated under new legislation
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Premier Paula Cox stressed rigorous investigations of past Government projects will take place as she gave details on proposed new Good Governance legislation this morning.
The Premier pointed to existing laws meaning any MPs who corruptly get benefits while discharging the duties of their job can be jailed for five years, as she reiterated her administration will be cracking down on unethical behaviour.
She said an imminent new bill will introduce a ream of measures, including giving the Director of Internal Audit extra powers to seize documents, protecting whistleblowers, and making it an offence to fail to disclose interests when awarding Government contracts.
Ms Cox told the House of Assembly in a ministerial statement: “While I feel very good about the introduction of these measures, I must state that, as Premier, I have a responsibility to ensure that concerns about past projects, in some keys areas of Government, are investigated.
“This bill provides an enabling framework to ensure that a rigorous review is conducted where there are queries, and the full results of that review will be shared with the House.
“The Good Governance legislation is not a tool used in a vacuum. It will work in tandem with other powers.
“I anticipate that where thought fit in the circumstances I would also reserve the right to appoint an independent team which could include a forensic specialist where circumstances warranted it, even if it is in the absence of a suspicion of criminality.
“The charge of the people's purse demands no less.”
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Published Jul 8, 2011 at 2:12 pm (Updated Jul 8, 2011 at 2:15 pm)