Tasmania has marked an important milestone in its legal and political history, with the launch of the newly established Integrity Commission.

Chief Commissioner, Murray Kellam, said the primary focus of the new Integrity Commission was one of prevention, education and advice.

“Our key challenges are to prevent misconduct in the first place and to enhance community trust and confidence in Tasmanian public authorities and our system of democracy,” Mr Kellam said.

Situated on Macquarie Street, Hobart, the premises of the new Commission were this week open for business and have already received their first formal complaints.

“Tasmanians can make a complaint if they believe a public officer in a relevant Tasmanian public authority has been involved in misconduct or serious misconduct as defined by the Act,” Mr Kellam said.

He said the Integrity Commission Act was also retrospective and the Commission could receive complaints about behaviour that occurred prior to the establishment of the Commission.

Mr Kellam said there was further work to be undertaken in launching the new Commission, including strategic and business planning, policy development and staff induction.

The Integrity Commission will be overseen by a Board of seven individuals, chaired by the Chief Commissioner.

The work of the Commission will be subject to scrutiny by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Integrity. The parliamentary committee will undertake a review of the Commission and the Act in three years time, followed by an independent review.

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