The Queensland Government has announced that it will boost funding for the Office of the Queensland Integrity Commissioner by $7.1 million over four years, with ongoing funding of $1.9 million.
The Government says the announcement delivers on its promise, made in the 2025-26 Budget, to strengthen the independence of the Office.
Previously, the Office of the Queensland Integrity Commissioner was a division within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet rather than a standalone body.
Among the functions of the Office are:
- Providing confidential advice on ethics and integrity issues to members of parliament, their staff, senior public servants and statutory office holders;
- Registering lobbyists and administering the lobbying regulatory scheme; and
- Providing education and training for lobbyists and politicians across all parties.
“Since coming to office, I have made integrity a priority and that includes ensuring the Integrity Commissioner is genuinely independent,” said Queensland’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, Deb Frecklington.
“This significant increase in funding will allow the Office to operate effectively and properly discharge its statutory functions.
“Unlike our predecessors, who wanted to keep Queenslanders in the dark as they ran a protection racket for their mates, the Crisafulli Government is committed to restoring integrity and delivering a more open and transparent government.”
The roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Queensland Integrity Commissioner were considered in Professor Peter Coaldrake’s 2022 review of culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector, known as the ‘Let the sunshine in’ report.
The Integrity Commissioner is a statutory office holder and officer of Queensland Parliament. The current Commissioner is Linda Waugh, who commenced in the role on 14 December 2022 for a five-year term.
Previously, Ms Waugh was the Merit Protection Commissioner for the Australian Public Service and Parliamentary Service.
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