Timor unveils anti-corruption plan
Updated
East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has revealed his plans to tackle corruption in the fledgling nation, MP's from his own coalition and the opposition have criticised the government's slow response to the problem.
Presenter: Stephanie March
Speakers: Xanana Gusmao, East Timor's Prime Minister; Steve Bracks, former Victorian premier and current advisor to Xanana Gusmao
East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has declared 2008 as the Year of Administrative Reform.
GUSMAO: When we came to government we said that we would create an apolitical civil service that delivers to our people. We said we would deliver a clean, open and transparent Government. We said we would minimise the risks of corruption, and that is why we are hear today
Speaking at a conference in Dili on Thursday he outlined his plans to establish a civil service commission to increase accountability in the public sector, boost the powers of the inspector general's office, and establish an anti-corruption commission.
GUSMAO: We must make sure that corruption doesn't pay in Timor-Leste - that the risks of engaging in corrupt behaviour are real and substantial. We need to take bold action and strong measures, this is not the time for small incremental change. It is critical that we do not allow corruption to take root in our new democracy. And now we have the strongest political will to prevent this from happening.
The conference comes in the wake of allegations from members of the opposition and Xanana Gusmao's own coalition MP's that the government has been too slow on tackling issues of corruption and nepotism.
The Timorese Social Democratic Association, or ASDT - a member of the coalition - have already signed an agreement with opposition Fretilin party to form an alliance for the next election.
Another coalition group say they want MPs from the prime minister's own party to move a motion of confidence in the parliament, to see if he still has the support he needs to continue governing the country.
Steve Bracks is a former premier of the Australian state of Victoria and is now advising Prime Minister Gusmao on civil service reform and anti corruption.
He says the move by ASDT is not cause for alarm.
BRACKS: Its really just a normal political matter when you have a coalition, it's a matter for the PM and the government of the day.
Importantly what we are seeing today is that the government is getting on with it's agenda.
The proposals discussed at the conference focus on setting up civil service and anti-corruption commissions and institutions that answer to parliament, and not to government.
Steve Bracks says the programs put forward by Xanana Gusmao are all about public scrutiny, and will allow the people of East Timor to receive information about how government finances are being used.
BRACKS: I think you can see now a government that is intent on having robust public institutions to root out any potential corruption in the future. What the country has is some good leaders with good intents to make sure the get the right institutions, and that's a great move.
And the conference may have come just in time to save East Timor's coalition government.
ASDT said earlier this week they would pull their MP's out of the coalition at the end of this month- causing the government to lose it's parliamentary majority - if they failed to start taking steps to deal with corruption.
Steve Bracks says anti-corruption was one of the Gusmao government's election platforms, and he believes the reforms discussed at the conference will be acted on in a timely fashion.
BRACKS: This is the year of administrative reform. Legislation would be in place following Council of Ministers decision in the second half of this year for each of these bodies to be up and running next year.
