The Western Australian Government today foreshadowed the formation of a permanent body to investigate allegations and complaints of corruption and improper conduct.
Premier Carmen Lawrence said she had asked for draft legislation to set up the new authority to be prepared and released for public comment early in the New Year.
Dr Lawrence said such a body - recommended by the Royal Commission - had great potential benefits if it was properly constituted and empowered.
Apart from being a public watchdog, its role would be to serve as an educative body and to ensure some uniformity of approach amongst agencies dealing with corruption and impropriety.
However, the Premier said she wanted to ensure the authority did not run the risk of unnecessary and extremely expensive duplication, or contravene civil liberties and the privacy of individuals.
"The new body will be a standing royal commission with the attendant powers and immunities," Dr Lawrence said.
"It will be empowered to make findings of fact and refer matters to the relevant authority for prosecution or other appropriate action."
The Premier also announced she would introduce and seek to pass legislation in Parliament in the next two weeks to set up the Commission on Government recommended by the Royal Commission.
"The Commission on Government will inquire into matters identified by the Royal Commission and report its recommendations to Parliament," Dr Lawrence said.
"However, the recommendations must be dealt with by a Parliament truly representative and fairly elected.
"This State has a sad history of obstruction of electoral reform by the conservative-dominated Legislative Council.
"I fervently hope the recommendations of the Royal Commission will give the conservative parties the resolve to support the changes."
Outlining the State Government's response to the Royal Commission, the Premier said recommended changes to Government legislation on political donations, MPs' financial interests and freedom of information now before the Parliament would also be dealt with immediately.
"I believe the legislation must be supported by the Opposition parties in the interests of making Government and Parliament more accountable to the community.
"The long-running obstruction by the Liberal and National parties to public disclosure of political donations and freedom of information legislation will not be tolerated."
The Premier said the Government accepted the need to overhaul the public service and agreed with the appointment of a Commissioner for Public Sector Standards.
"The Commissioner would report to Parliament and be charged with the scrutiny and review of the entire public sector," she said.
"The appointment will replace the existing office of the Public Service Commissioner.
"I have embarked on a massive reform program of unprecedented scale in this State.
"My greatest hope is that all sections of the Western Australian community, including the Opposition parties, will embrace the program with equal enthusiasm."
