[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Response to PAC Committee Report_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

RESPONSE TO PAC COMMITTEE REPORT

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the recommendations in the Public
Accounts Committee Inquiry into Television Advertisements by the
Tasmanian Greens saying that they reflect the Greens' belief that better
guidelines and processes should be developed regarding expenditure for
all MPs and political parties. 

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the Greens had always maintained
that there had been no impropriety over former Leader Peg Putt's
decision to choose Zoot Film Tasmania to create anti-pulp mill
television advertisements. 

"The Committee's recommendations are welcomed, and have the full support
of the Greens." 

"The Committee has effectively supported the Greens' rights to advertise
against the pulp mill, which is what we have always maintained."

"The Committee has also found that the government's Whole-of-Government
Communications Policy at the time was '...an inappropriate document',
and that the way that the Department of Premier and Cabinet communicated
with the Greens was 'ad hoc' and ' not in accordance with the
professional responsibility of the agency responsible for compliance'."


Mr McKim said that he is bemused by the Committee's finding that he
should have declared a conflict of interest to Ms Putt relating to his
partner's association with a company involved in creating the
advertisements, saying that the finding is in direct contradiction to Ms
Putt's evidence to the Committee, which was included in the Report, that
she was aware of the situation.

"The Committee did not find that there was any conflict of interest in
this matter, and that is because a conflict of interest did not exist."

"I am satisfied that both Ms Putt and myself acted in an entirely
appropriate manner at all times."




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