Despite promising to implement a federal anti-corruption commission last election, the Morrison Government looks set to delay plans to table legislation in the Senate until next year amid Senate concerns that the model lacks teeth:
First floated in 2018 by then attorney-general Christian Porter, the Coalition has come under sustained criticism since for failing to establish its long-promised Commonwealth Integrity Commission.
The model proposed by the government was labelled as a toothless watchdog operating under a veil of secrecy, and was unlikely to get through the Senate…
Chief among [concerns are that the] Commonwealth Integrity Commission would not have the ability to launch investigations off its own bat: it would have to be directed to do so.
Analysis by the Centre for Public Integrity showed that was inconsistent with most other jurisdictions, as was the fact it would not be able to receive complaints from any member of the public.
The proposed Commonwealth model would not allow for public hearings, again out of step with all other states and territories, with the exception of South Australia…
There’s a slim chance we could see the legislation by the end of the year, and the Coalition had previously flagged that would be the plan.
But, with only a fortnight left in the 2021 parliamentary year, that is now looking unlikely.
The Prime Minister’s office and the Attorney-General’s office have both said no decision has been made on when the bill would be introduced…
If the Prime Minister was to call an election for March 2022, this would be the final sitting fortnight of federal parliament before Australians head to the polls.
Multiple experts have raised concern that the proposed federal anti-corruption commission is a farce that will “hide corruption, not expose it”.
Thus, I would prefer no anti corruption commission than one that is half baked and designed to mask wrongdoing.
Based on recent polling, there’s a very good chance the Morrison Government will lose the upcoming election. Labor has stated publicly that it supports a proper anti-corruption commission. Thus, we are better to wait until after the election so that Labor can do it properly.
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness.
Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.
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