“The efficiency and timeliness of the current appointment process for Commissioners and Parliamentary Inspectors of the CCC”
Resumed from 28 March on the following motion moved by Hon Jim Chown — That the report be noted.
[Speeches and comments from various members]
Hon ALISON XAMON: I rise to make some comments in response to a really helpful contribution by Hon Adele Farina. Much of what she said in her contribution echoed a lot of the advice that was both reported back into this chamber in one of the committee reports and given by the Clerk of the Legislative Council. It was never envisaged when this committee was created that parties other than those of the government of the day and the official opposition would not have the opportunity to be represented on that committee. It is helpful to go back to what was intended with the make-up of that committee. I have stood in this place and quoted, from Hansard, my former parliamentary colleague Hon Giz Watson, who made it very clear in the course of debate in this place that it was intended that any representative of any party could potentially be included in this committee. As such, I share the comments made by Hon Peter Collier, in that I do not believe that any error was made in this chamber by anybody in how we proceeded with all our committee appointments. Although this particular committee appointment has been controversial, I feel that we got it right in the make-up of all our committees, and I feel it is important to make that point.
One of the reasons I wanted to stand, though, was that I was very aware of the nature of the debate that occurred in the other place. I was disappointed that much of it was about me at the time. My name was used quite freely, yet I had no opportunity to respond. It is really important that this issue is made very clear for the parliamentary record once and for all so that hopefully, in the future, if a member of Parliament who is not a member of the official opposition or the government of the day is appointed to this committee, they do not have to go through the same questioning about the appropriateness of their membership that I have had to put up with.
However, getting back to the issue of the report in front of us today that we have been talking about back and forth, which is the efficiency and timeliness of the current appointment process for commissioners and parliamentary inspectors of the CCC, these are really important appointments and worthy of us spending time to ensure that we get right. It is also pertinent to examine the comments put forward by Hon Adele Farina about the history of what was envisaged in having the leaders of parties play a role in the process of these appointments, which must be apolitical. The Corruption and Crime Commission can, without careful scrutiny and appointment, slip into politicised activity. I think Parliament should be constantly vigilant about scrutinising that. Likewise, it is essential that the parliamentary inspector, who oversees the activity of the CCC—who is the critical link between Parliament and the activities of the CCC—is above reproach and fully trusted. People need to feel confident in the competence of the parliamentary inspector. I hope Parliament always takes these appointments very, very seriously. It is concerning that the current make-up of the committee means that three out of four members are unable to receive specific guidance from their parties or to consult more widely and are left to try to make these really, really critical appointments. I said earlier that I hope we can have an overall review of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. Making piecemeal amendments to the CCC act has perhaps not been an entirely effective exercise, and it is about time that we start an overall root-and-branch assessment. At the same time, I think there is scope to make sure that we look at the various amendments that need to happen sooner rather than later. Perhaps this is one of those amendments that should be contemplated sooner rather than later.
The reply from the government does not really contain much commitment to progress this in any sort of meaningful way. I hope that will be revisited as this parliamentary term continues. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful about an overall review, as well as looking at a better way to make these appointments. We have a bit of time on our side because the parliamentary inspector has just been reappointed to a five-year term, and I understand that the CCC commissioner’s role will be up for appointment in about two years’ time. We have a bit of a window of not having to worry about affecting the individuals involved, and we can simply look at the whole process cleanly to ensure that the appointments are better carried out. I think the original intent of the committee, which was to ensure these appointments were truly bipartisan and apolitical, was absolutely the way to go. I add that that would have even more been the case if the current CCC committee had three members of three parties coming to agreement. I cannot talk about the deliberations of the committee, so I do not want members to read anything into that comment other than to say that I think the wider the consensus, the better the outcome.
Question put and passed.