Xenophon ups pressure for SA corruption probe
SENATOR Nick Xenophon wants South Australia to establish an independent commission to investigate corruption as well as poor use of Federal funds.
He has threatened to use his influence with the Federal Government – as one who holds the balance of power in the Senate – to create greater transparency in South Australia for the spending of federal funds.
Senator Xenophon will tell the Press Club in Adelaide today that corruption exists in the state, but remains hidden because of the lack of a broad-based, independent authority.
"The Commonwealth provides funding for state projects – we must have a level of transparency that this state does not have," he said.
"You cannot have a level of transparency in the absence of a corruption and maladministration commission."
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The Federal Government has this year committed hundreds of millions of dollars to help the State Government deliver infrastructure projects such as the desalination plant at Port Stanvac.
Senator Xenophon cited the blowout in the WorkCover liability to $1.3 billion as an example of the need for greater transparency. He also referred to promised reforms by the Labor Opposition in 2001, in which politicians were to be banned from taxpayer-funded advertisements.
Attorney-General Michael Atkinson again rejected the need for an independent commission, criticising Mr Xenophon.
"Mr Xenophon has the advantage of parliamentary privilege and has always been free to air all his allegations with impunity, whether they turn out to be true or not," Mr Atkinson said.
"(His) proposal is mere object pondering to the media, who would relish the freedom to publish false allegations and then not publish, months down the track, the fact that allegations were untrue, as more than 98 per cent of allegations to ICACs prove to be."
Senator Xenophon said he had examples of suspected corruption, which could not be detailed for fear of legal action.
While other states have independent anti-corruption bodies, South Australia has an anti-corruption branch within SA Police and the Police Complaints Authority, using seconded police officers for investigations.
"In every state where there is an independent corruption commission, corruption is unearthed – so it stands to reason that it is undetected here," he said.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25613197-5006301,00.html
Good article to visit as it has an interesting POLL to tick. tc
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