Greens urge new Premier to do the right thing on ICAC

According to a press report, the Independent Commission Against Corruption will have five fewer investigators this year as a result of cuts in last year's State budget.

Jamie Parker, Greens spokesperson on anti-corruption said:

“This news presents an opportunity for Premier Berejiklian to send a strong message early in her premiership that corruption will not be tolerated. She must reverse these cuts and restore the funding taken away under Baird’s leadership.

Corrupt public servants and politicians are no doubt delighted to see the ICAC’s work hampered even further, making it easier for them to cheat the system without being apprehended.

When Mike Baird was Premier, the government refused a request to give two million dollars of extra funding to the ICAC. The government essentially reneged on their commitments to fully fund the ICAC, forcing it to drastically reduce its investigating capacity.

Last year Liberal and Labor politicians came to a bipartisan view that the ICAC should be fundamentally restructured, despite opposition to this from the Commission itself. Then the Liberals went one step further by effectively sacking the ICAC Commissioner.

These latest cuts are clearly another attempt to rein in the one body that keeps politicians from rorting the people of NSW and getting away with it.

The dust hasn’t yet settled on last year’s political corruption scandals such as the sentencing of Eddie Obeid. Now, more than ever, we need a strong, independent corruption-fighting body for our state.

Gladys Berejiklian has said she’s committed to strengthening the ICAC. She now has a chance to show that this wasn’t just empty words. Only by properly funding the ICAC can the Premier demonstrate she’s determined to stamp out corruption in NSW.”

ENDS

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Showing 1 reaction

Christopher James commented 2017-02-16 16:21:50 +1100
Good on ya Jamie, any attacks on the ICAC and it’s funding is an attack on Transparency. Any chance of rolling back the no.of commissioners back to 1 ? I’ve grave fears on the ICAC’s effectiveness and impartiality with 3.

FERRIES AT ANNANDALE AND WEST BALMAIN

Imagine hopping on a ferry at Annandale or West Balmain and being in the heart of the city within minutes.

In 2020, we won the campaign for a Glebe ferry. Now, we have the opportunity to connect more of our area to the ferry network. New ferries at Annandale and West Balmain will provide a faster, smarter route into the city without adding to the traffic on our roads.

Both Labor and the Liberals want to build more polluting and destructive tollways across Sydney. But we have costed a comprehensive plan for a world-class public transport system that makes getting around our city fast and easy.

Dear Transport Minister,

New inner west ferry services would provide efficient, fast and environmentally sound travel to and from the area for workers, tourists, students, pensioners and the general public.

I therefore ask that the Government build on the success of the Blackwattle Bay ferry and establish a ferry service at Rozelle Bay for the Annandale area and reinstate the ferry at West Balmain.

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