Review of the Members of Parliament (Register of Interests) Act 1978
Media Release
REVIEW OF THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (REGISTER OF INTERESTS) ACT 1978
From Johan Scheffer MLC, Chair 17 April 2009
The Victorian Parliament’s Law Reform Committee today called for public submissions to its review of the Members of Parliament (Register of Interests) Act 1978.
The Chair of the Committee, Mr Johan Scheffer, said that, “The Act is concerned with provisions that deal with the code of conduct and the register of interests for members of parliament.”
Mr Scheffer said the Victorian Parliament was the first in Australia to introduce a code of conduct and register of interests for MPs in 1978 but the laws have not been updated since.
“The code sets out some basic standards of conduct for MPs such as ensuring their public duty is not compromised by conflicting private interests,” Mr Scheffer said.
The register of interests requires MPs to put on the public record their financial and other interests, such as land and shareholdings, that have the potential to conflict with their public duties.
In 2008, the Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee recommended the Victorian Government update the reporting requirements for members of parliament contained within the Members of Parliament (Register of Interests) Act 1978.
The Public Accounts and Estimates Committee also recommended the Government update the code of conduct for members of parliament as contained in the Act.
The Law Reform Committee invites members of the public to make submissions on:
- the standards of conduct expected of MPs in Victoria
- the types of interests MPs or their families should have to disclose on the register
- whether there should be an independent person to advise MPs about ethical issues related to the code of conduct or the register of interests.
“The review is a chance for Victorians to have their say about the standards they expect from their representatives in the Victorian Parliament,” Mr Scheffer said. “The Committee wants to hear from as wide a range of people as possible.”
The closing date for written submissions is 29 May 2009. The Committee will be holding public hearings before tabling its final report and recommendations later this year.
Advice about how to make a submission to the Committee, and copies of the Members of Parliament (Register of Interests) Act 1978, are available on the Law Reform Committee’s website at www.parliament.vic.gov.au/lawreform.
For further information or comment contact Ms Kerryn Riseley, Executive Officer, Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee: 8682 2850.