Media Release: Integrity Bill Compounds Government Secrecy Concerns

Integrity Bill Compounds Government Secrecy Concerns

19 June 2026

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today slammed the Rockliff Government for failing to deliver a key 2016 recommendation by Former Chief Justice William Cox to reform the powers of the Integrity Commission.

Ms Webb said the Government has done this without explanation.

“This compounds concerns the Rockliff Government is more interested in self-protection than strengthening integrity and public confidence,” Ms Webb said.

“The Government cannot keep treating the parliament or the public as fools.

“It is no coincidence that the single major change between the exposure draft Bill and the version tabled in Parliament quietly deletes this provision which would strengthen the Integrity Commission’s interrogative and information-gathering powers.

“We all respect the fundamental privilege to not self-incriminate during judicial proceedings. However, the Integrity Commission is not a court.

“The removal of the privilege as detailed in the draft bill was consistent with established practice in other Australian integrity jurisdictions, while also providing appropriate safeguards.”

Ms Webb said she viewed all available submissions made on the Draft Bill.

“While some note the proposed removal of the self-incrimination privilege, I could not find one that advocated against this reform.

“This begs the question as to why and on whose request did this recommendation suddenly disappear from the tabled Bill.

“A clear question that must be answered is whether this reversal of policy has come about at the direct request of any stakeholders, MPs, Cabinet Members or even the Integrity Commission itself.

“In this of all weeks, when we have seen dark clouds of integrity failures hanging over the Rockliff Government, it is a damning indictment to have such an important reform jettisoned without explanation.”

Ms Webb said Tasmanians deserve an explanation for the abandonment of this expert-advised improvement to our Integrity Commission Act, including whether it has been done to protect its own Ministers.

“Having waited a decade for the Liberal Government to progress the bulk of the 55 recommendations of the Cox Review, Tasmanians are now utterly disillusioned over the capacity for the Integrity Commission to undertake its important work.

“We know Integrity Commission investigations are hampered at every turn by flawed and outdated provisions in the Act, such as the provision that those under investigation can refuse to answer questions.

“It is essential to address these matters if we are ever to see our Integrity Commission actually deliver on its name.”