Media Release: Premier Corrects Record: Government Knew Identity of Intended COI Misconduct and Adverse Findings

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said the extraordinary correction made by the Premier in Parliament today on government knowledge of intended or possible misconduct findings by the Commission of Inquiry confirmed the undeniable necessity of an external
independent assessment to provide full transparency.

“It is astonishing to see the government compelled to make a correction demonstrating a clear disconnect between the state’s lawyers, departmental bureaucrats and the Premier and his Ministers – with information failing to be shared in relation to current and former state
servants the commission had intended or was considering issuing misconduct notices to,” Ms Webb said.

“The correction provided today was only dragged into the light by the pressure of parliamentary questions and my persistent spotlight on the need for independent assessment and greater transparency.

“The need to correct the record calls into question what further details may not yet have come to light and may yet emerge on the intended misconduct findings by the Commission of Inquiry,” Ms Webb said.

The Premier’s suggestion that an internal review by Heads of Agency was appropriate or sufficient to deliver answers and accountability on these misconduct matters was described by Ms Webb as clearly misguided and unable to pass even the lowest bar for independence
and transparency.

“The Premier must explain why he will not immediately establish a genuinely external and independent way to deliver answers to the Tasmanian community – what possible objection does he have to ensuring the highest level of transparency?

“Today’s correction reveals a failure of internal process and communication, apparently leaving the Premier and his Ministers in the dark for months about state servants against whom a finding of misconduct was intended or considered by the Commission.

“How can the Tasmanian people possibly accept that an internal government process to review this situation will be sufficient to restore public confidence and trust?

“Anything short of an immediate announcement of an independent review and assessment, with formal and transparent reporting back to Parliament and the Tasmanian people, can only be seen as a dereliction of duty on the part of the Premier,” Ms Webb said.