<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>331099</docID> <postdate>2024-10-17 08:18:03</postdate> <headline>More funding to give integrity watchdog a bigger bite</headline> <body><p><strong>Funding for the ACT Integrity Commission will be increased by 15 per cent – $5.6 million over the next four years – if the Canberra Liberals win government on Saturday.</strong></p> <p>Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said: “During estimates hearings earlier this year the Integrity Commissioner explicitly mentioned that if he had the necessary resources, he would have launched an inquiry into lobbying in the ACT.</p> <p>“It is clear the current ACT Labor-Greens Government has not provided adequate resources to the Integrity Commission and we are concerned that it may have resulted in drawn-out inquiries including into the CIT contracts and Campbell Primary School modernisation project procurement, which is still ongoing.</p> <p>“With a number of ministers having fronted public hearings in Integrity Commission investigations this term, it is no surprise the same government has not adequately resourced the commission.</p> <p>“A Canberra Liberals Government that I lead will always be upfront with Canberrans and we are not afraid of boosting funding for the Integrity Commission to undertake its very important work.â€</p> <p> </p> </body>