138New section 8 inserted

138 New section 8 inserted

After section 7A of the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003 insert—

"8 Parliamentary Ethics Committee

(1) The functions of the Parliamentary Ethics Committee are—

(a) to inquire into, consider and report to the Parliament on any proposal, matter or thing concerned with—

(i) the effectiveness of the Members Statement of Values and Members Code of Conduct; and

(ii) the ethical obligations of members of Parliament; and

(b) to review the Members Code of Conduct at least once every 4 years and to report to the Parliament on the review; and

(c) to promote the Members Code of Conduct to the Parliament and the public; and

(d) to prepare guidance materials in relation to the ethical obligations of members of Parliament; and

(e) to provide information and training sessions to members of Parliament on integrity and ethical issues; and

(f) to receive reports from the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission in relation to the ethical obligations of members of Parliament; and

(g) to monitor and review the performance of the duties and functions of the Parliamentary Integrity Adviser; and

(h) to report to the Parliament on any matter connected with the performance of the duties and functions of the Parliamentary Integrity Adviser that may require the attention of the Parliament; and

(i) to consider any proposed appointment of the Parliamentary Integrity Adviser under section 92 of the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024 and to exercise a power of veto in accordance with that Act; and

(j) to carry out any other function conferred on the Parliamentary Ethics Committee by or under the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024.

(2) The first review under subsection (1)(b) must be commenced within 12 months after the first appointment of members of the Parliamentary Ethics Committee.

(3) Despite anything to the contrary in subsection (1), the Parliamentary Ethics Committee cannot investigate a matter relating to particular conduct the subject of—

(a) a referral to the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission under the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024; or

(b) a particular disclosure determined by the IBAC under section 26 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 to be a public interest complaint; or

(c) any advice given by the Parliamentary Integrity Adviser to a current or former member of Parliament, Minister or Parliamentary Secretary.