Premier defends changes to ‘problematic’ ROI bill for public servants

A debate has grown over planned amendments to the Register of Interests (ROI) Act and how it is expected to affect senior public officials in the territory once they are also included in the new legislation. 

Effectively, the Register of Interests is a record kept of the financial interests of legislators. Its purpose is to give them the mechanism to publicly declare any private interests which may conflict or may be perceived to conflict with their public duties. 

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley urged Opposition members not to play politics with the issue and called for their support in advancing legislative changes needed in the House of Assembly (HOA). 

These include amendments tied to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations and the quickly approaching May deadline for implementation of those recommendations.

Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn insisted that the public servants were being ‘dragged along’ concerning amendments to the ROI bill and argued that the changes were “totally inconsistent with the primary legislation”.

“It mentions the Commission, what a public officer is, and it’s specific as to where, within the legislation, you should substitute member for public officer, and that’s all it does,” Walwyn argued.

Walwyn further argued that the current ROI law was primarily for HOA members and has a different structure to the one being put forward for amendment. 

Premier Wheatley urged House members not to create confusion and to promote things that they have not confirmed, such as insisting there was no consultation on the bill with public servants.

“Those things sound good and they’re good politics, but all we’re doing is damaging our territory,” the Premier said.

“We are saying that individuals are liars when we do those things,” the Premier added. “As I said before, this is under the conduct of the Deputy Governor’s Office and he assured me that consultation was done.”

Premier Wheatley said he strongly encouraged feedback on the Register of Interest at a meeting with department heads, including government ministers. He even described it as “begging” for their input. 

Dr Wheatley further explained that he did not stop there and also contacted the Civil Service Association to continue the conversation.