There are claims that the new Tasmanian Government is trying to erode the powers of the state’s corruption watchdog.

If recent inquiries in other states are anything to go by, all governments need some heavy minding to stop them slipping into dodgy behaviours.

But Tasmanian Integrity Commission chief executive Diane Merryfull says the Government's submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the watchdog shows that it wants to shut it down.

The Tasmanian Government proposed removing the Integrity Commission’s investigative abilities completely, and cut it down to a mere advisory role. 

Ms Merryfull defended the commission’s role and necessity at the inquiry.

“It is clear now to us that the Government is not interested in a review of the Commission, it is interested in dismantling the Commission,” she said.

“It’s no coincidence to us that as soon as an integrity commission starts to get some runs on the board... the response is to shut it down.

“[The Government] wants to take Tasmania back to the old days, once again putting it behind every other state in the country.”

Tasmania's Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the Commission was inefficient, and it would be easier to deal with corruption claims internally.

“We have other agencies as well that conduct these investigations,” she told the inquiry.

“If it was a criminal matter police would do that, we have the AG and we also have the Ombudsman, so we already have a number of integrity entities.

“The concern is we have now overlap.”

Ms Merryfull said the comments were “naive and self-serving” and that the Government's line was “long on rhetoric and short on evidence”.

“It makes it clear that in general the Government doesn't favour or like integrity bodies,” she said.

“It uses terms such as ‘a proliferation of integrity agencies’ and ‘the expensive and expanding integrity industry’.”

The state’s Police Association said supported the Integrity Commission as it stands, but does not believe it needs more powers.