After years of discussion about the need for an impartial watchdog for politicians, Australia’s government announced on Tuesday that it will present legislation to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The action will “establish faith and integrity in politics,” according to a joint statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Attorney General Mark Dreyfus. A total of A$262 million ($169.8 million) over four years will be granted. On Wednesday, a bill is anticipated to be presented to the legislature.
The commission will look into major or systemic corruption by federal government ministers, lawmakers, political appointees, and staff members of government agencies or contractors.
According to the statement, it will have the authority to act retroactively, identify evidence of corruption, and send criminal cases to the federal police or public prosecutors.
Two Liberal state premiers have resigned in the last ten years as a result of investigations by the New South Wales state corruption watchdog into politicians and political donations in Australia’s largest state.
In response to criticism over the public nature of the NSW corruption hearings and the harm done to careers, even when a corruption finding was ultimately not made, the federal Liberal government of Scott Morrison, which lost office in a national election in May, had resisted calls for a federal watchdog.
According to the government statement, the national commission will have the authority to hold public hearings “in extraordinary circumstances” and when doing so is in the general welfare.
Judicial review will be available for the commission’s conclusions, it noted.
