Libs to refer Burnside to Ombudsman
The Liberal Opposition rejects Labor’s decision to leave the allegations arising out of the Burnside Council fiasco unresolved.
Labor’s Local Government Minister Russell Wortley in Parliament this week repeatedly referred to the matters the subject of the investigation as “petty”.
“Mr Wortley has shown again that Labor does not take public integrity seriously,” Shadow Attorney-General Stephen Wade said.
Mr Wade said that the Liberal Opposition totally rejected Labor’s trivialisation of serious allegations and is looking to refer the Burnside Council investigation to the Ombudsman by a motion of the Legislative Council.
Under s 14(1) of the Ombudsman’s Act, Parliament may refer a matter for investigation as follows:
“…either House of Parliament…may refer to the Ombudsman, for investigation and report, any matter that is within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman and which that House or committee considers should be investigated by the Ombudsman.”
“The Opposition will consult Burnside Council, residents and stakeholders on the scope of the referral,” Mr Wade said.
“We expect that it will cover the original complaints and matters raised through Burnside Council investigation.
“The Ombudsman has all the powers of a Royal Commission and we expect the Ombudsman would get access to all papers and documents from the McPherson inquiry, including the draft report.
“Labor has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars and failed to restore public confidence – and yet they are happy to bury the report and effectively tell the Burnside community to ‘get over it’.
“The Burnside Council opposes that decision, and so does the Opposition.
“Labor’s willingness to leave the Burnside investigation unresolved shows that they have low standards in public administration.
“For four years, the State Liberal Opposition has been demanding an ICAC – Labor has refused to listen.
“One of the first priorities of an incoming Liberal Government will be to establish a broad-based ICAC.”
Shadow Minister for Local Government Mark Goldsworthy said the McPherson Report was going to take 12 weeks to finish – instead it has taken two years only for it to be scrapped.
“Let’s not forget, the McPherson Report was going to cost $250,000 – instead it has cost at least $1.5 million of taxpayers’ money, so far,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
“This is yet another embarrassing chapter of the Burnside Council mess and Labor should be ashamed of the way it is treating the Local Government portfolio.
“South Australians deserve more from Labor.”