The analysis has found the Tasmanian Integrity Commission is desperately underfunded and lacks power and transparency.
It recommends the new parliament address five major issues with the commission and the 49 outstanding recommendations from a 2016 review which, nearly a decade on, have not been implemented.
Key findings:
The Tasmanian Integrity Commission's 2024 budget is $3.73 million, just a fraction of equivalent bodies in Victoria ($63.6m) and NSW ($49.7m)
The Commission has never held a public hearing in its 14 years of operation, despite having the power to do so – leading to significant transparency and public trust issues
Commissioners should be limited to a single term in office, to minimise incentives to avoid investigations
Australia Institute polling shows more than three-quarters (77%) of Tasmanians support a new, fit-for-purpose anti-corruption commission, with stronger mechanisms to investigate misconduct and corruption
The Act of Parliament that established the commission is fundamentally flawed
"Tasmanians are tired of politicians' power games. They want whoever forms government to get on with governing the state. More importantly, they want them to govern with integrity, honesty and transparency," said Eloise Carr, Director, The Australia Institute Tasmania.
"Voters feel like they have not been told the truth on issues like the dodgy AFL stadium deal, the ferry fiasco, the damage caused by commercial salmon farming and the way their taxes are spent. At least two unresolved investigations into Ministers remain outstanding.
"The commission's current funding is so low, it begs the question of whether it's deliberate, in order to avoid scrutiny.
"Most of Tasmania's crossbench campaigned on strengthening Tasmania's Integrity Commission. Negotiations as to who will form government are ongoing, and strengthening Tasmania's Integrity Commission warrants consideration in those negotiations.
"If ever there was a time and a need to fix the flawed Tasmanian Integrity Commission, it is now."
