The Government has received notification from the Chief Executive Officer of the Integrity Commission, Diane Merryfull, that she intends to retire from full-time work and will depart from her role on 16 October.
Given the proximity of the independent five year review, the Government and Chief Commissioner have agreed to appoint an Acting CEO until the review has been concluded. The Premier is required to consult with the Joint Standing Committee on Integrity in relation to the appointment of an Acting CEO and an announcement will be made on that appointment as soon as that process is concluded.
Ms Merryfull’s retirement continues a period of renewal for the Integrity Commission, with Greg Melick SC recently being appointed as the new Chief Commissioner of the Integrity Commission.
The five year independent review of the Integrity Commission is also due to commence early in 2016. Section 106 of the Integrity Commission Act 2009 provides for an independent review of that Act, which must be commissioned as soon as possible after 31 December 2015. The independent review is to be undertaken by a person appointed by the Governor, and that person must be, or previously have held office as, a judge of a court of the Commonwealth or of an Australian State or Territory.
The Government has made clear that our position is the same as the Joint Standing Committee on Integrity’s recommendation that “the question of the investigative powers and functions of the Integrity Commission should be considered as part of the five year review, and that until that review, the investigative functions and powers of the Integrity Commission should be retained.”
I thank Ms Merryfull for her contribution to the Integrity Commission since her appointment in 2012.