 MPs thumb nose at ethics |
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By: slr2007mclaren
4/07/2009
6:46 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,2 5729678-952,00.html
QUEENSLAND politicians have been accused of sidestepping scrutiny and becoming "deluded" about ethics by the man charged with keeping them honest.
Outgoing Integrity Commissioner Gary Crooke, QC, warned that MPs were thumbing their noses at conflict-of-interest criticisms.
His comments came on an extraordinary day in the Gordon Nuttall trial, as former premier Peter Beattie contradicted claims from his successor, Anna Bligh, that she did not need to declare a free family holiday last year.
Ms Bligh told Brisbane District Court this week there was no need to declare the stay at the Sydney mansion of Thiess director and friend Ros Kelly.
However, Mr Beattie yesterday told the court any holiday gift given to a minister should be declared.
"We both know what we are talking about and the answer is yes," Mr Beattie said when asked if a declaration was needed.
Mr Crooke said the actions of MPs risked undermining public confidence and compromising gains in ethical standards.
In an interview to mark his retirement, Mr Crooke said he was often aware of politicians and senior public servants who did not seek the Integrity Commissioner's advice because they believed in their own ethical compass.
"There is a danger, a very real danger, that . . . an individual is so confident of their own ethical approach to anything that confronts them that they won't heed whatever is thought to be the conflictual aspect ," he said. "But, in fact, they fall into the trap of engaging in a practice that, objectively, is seen to be inappropriate." |
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By: slr2007mclaren
4/07/2009
6:47 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Mr Crooke also criticised the growing practice of "pay-per-view" politics that has emerged on both sides of politics as a key fundraising mechanism.
He said politicians were only "trustees" of elected positions so they were selling something they had no right to.
Ms Bligh, who eventually declared her holiday after it was revealed by The Courier-Mail, yesterday said the job of the integrity commissioner was vital to ensure ethical behaviour.
She defended pay-per-view fundraising, saying the donations were publicly declared.
"In the Australian political context, these arrangements are seen for what they are, they are political donations," she said.
But Mr Crooke, a senior counsel in Queensland's Fitzgerald inquiry, said the practice struck at the heart of public administration and both sides of politics appeared to be keen to take the money but reluctant to debate if they should.
"One of my abiding fears is that if something like this is done and cannot be justified in principle, there a developing tendency in public administration for people to say: 'If we just do it and tough it out people will forget about it'," he said.
"That is the worst type of apathy and if we are talking about trying to improve public standards there has got to be accountability and justifiability for anything that is done at the top level." |
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By: slr2007mclaren
4/07/2009
6:48 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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So this is a QLD QC commenting about QLD politician
What state did Rudd come from?
Was he referring to Rudd's Shreddergate? |
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By: buzzanddidj
4/07/2009
7:20 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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'Ms Bligh told Brisbane District Court this week there was no need to declare the stay at the Sydney mansion of Thiess director and friend Ros Kelly.
However, Mr Beattie yesterday told the court any holiday gift given to a minister should be declared'
Serious question.....
Are there a rigid set of rules, here ?
If Anna Bligh's elderly next door neighbour drops her in a batch of scones, does she have to declare that ?
If a personal friend, from outside of politics, buys her a birthday present
Should THAT be declared ?
If a neighbour offers the use of a caravan, on a permanent site by the beach, while they are not using it
Should THIS sort of thing be on a gift register ?
Are there specified limits, and if so, who decides the dollar value of a gesture ?
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By: peterjpearson01
4/07/2009
7:46 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197 ,25686627-5013945,00.html
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SOUTH Australian Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith misled a group of his most senior MPs into believing there was a highly placed ALP source behind fake documents he used to try to discredit the Rann government.
It also can be revealed a question time strategy meeting on April 28, the day the documents were used by the Liberals, was attended by Mr Hamilton-Smith, deputy leader Vickie Chapman and frontbenchers Isobel Redmond and Mitch Williams.
Also present at the meeting was David Pisoni, the leader's "attack-dog" MP, who initially received the documents and asked the first question in parliament about them.
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Yep!! They sure do...... |
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MPs thumb nose at ethics |
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