Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee will present a bill in the Legislative Assembly this week that would allow the ACT Integrity Commission to have telecommunication interception powers.

The Integrity Commissioner has discussed in Annual Reports for the last two years and Estimates Hearings the urgent need to have telecommunications interception powers in order to conduct investigations properly.

The Commissioner also went on to say in hearings last month that the AFP has indicated they have material that would be of assistance to investigations but due to current legislation he is unable to access it.

Ms Lee said the ACT along with Tasmania are the only jurisdictions whose integrity body does not have the legal authority to intercept telecommunications.

“Integrity in government is of utmost importance and it is disappointing the ACT remains one of the only jurisdictions where the integrity body does not have this power,” Ms Lee said.

“In the recent Estimates Hearings, the Integrity Commissioner revealed the Chief Minister has not even responded to his request for a meeting regarding critical changes required in legislation, specifically telephone interception powers.

“The Chief Minister continues to delay implementing this important piece of legislation and is clearly dragging his heels on the issue.

“We know this Labor-Greens government has no interest in transparency, but the Integrity Commission must be given the resources it needs to conduct thorough investigations.

“We have seen just this year significant integrity issues around the Campbell Primary Modernisation Project, the CIT contracts and Acton Waterfront project and the Commission must be given the resources to investigate these matters,” Ms Lee concluded.