According to Vote Compass, 85% of Australians believe corruption is a problem in this country (conversely, only 1% think it’s not a problem). As for the politicians asking for our vote… it’s a mixed bag. In the second, extremely chaotic leader’s debate on Channel 9 overnight, Scott Morrison insisted he had seen no corruption at all over his political career. On the other hand, many independents and minority party candidates are campaigning hard on the idea of cleaning up the federal political ‘swamp’. Is a Federal ICAC or similar anti-corruption body a top priority for you in this election? If so, read on! We’ve summed up the position of key political parties in the House of Reps and Senate, and some of the indies, too! It’s not a comprehensive list, so be sure to find out where the candidates in your electorate specifically stand on this issue.
| Liberal Party | ALP | Greens | Jacqui Lambie Network | Federal ICAC Now |
| Independents | United Australia Party | National Party | Pauline Hanson’s One Nation | TNL |
Liberal Party
Although Scott Morrison promised to legislate a federal integrity body if elected in 2019 election, as we all know by now he did not follow through. There was a proposal, though. The Liberals’ draft plan for a Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC) included public hearings into law enforcement, but hearings into corruption allegations against politicians, their staff, and public servants would be held in private. As well as this, the watchdog would only take referrals from other agencies, and would be unable to commence an investigation based on a tip-off from a community member. Public service whistleblowers would also need concrete evidence of a crime for the commission to consider an investigation.
So, what’s their plan in this election campaign? At a press conference, Morrison was asked whether he would promise (again) to put his proposal to a vote in the next parliament if Coalition won the 21 May election. He said: “Our position on this hasn’t changed…Our view has been the same – when the Labor party is prepared to support that legislation in that form, then we will proceed with it.”
There is internal disagreement within the Liberal party over this policy plan. Last year, Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to support independent MP Helen Haines’ bill to establish a federal integrity commission. Archer accused the government of “inertia” over the issue. It’s likely Morrison will face pressure once again from crossbench independents if the coming election is close enough to deliver a hung parliament.
Australian Labor Party
Labor promises to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and plans to prioritise introducing legislation to establish such a body if elected on May 21. Labor’s proposed NACC would have broad jurisdiction to investigate Commonwealth ministers, public servants, statutory office holders, government agencies, parliamentarians, and personal staff of politicians. The party also wants the commission to carry out its functions independently of the government. A key difference to the Liberal’s proposal is that Labor wants its body to be able to launch investigations of its own initiative based on tip-offs from the public. This includes exploring “serious and systemic corruption” which may have occurred before the watchdog was established. The NACC may also conduct public hearings if the issues is deemed to be in the public interest.
Australian Greens
The Greens have a strong anti-corruption stance and plan to address political corruption with the formation of a Federal Integrity Commission, if elected. Their proposed Commission would be able to receive public tip-offs, investigate issues up to 10 years old, hold public hearings if in the public interest, and provide protections for journalists and whistleblowers. Broadly, it would have similar investigative powers that currently apply to public sector agencies.
They also plan to ban all donations from coal and gas corporations, and cap all other donations to $1000 per year. The Greens also want to lift parliamentary standards with an enforceable Code of Conduct and tighten up political advertising laws.
Jacqui Lambie Network
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has made it quite clear that she is not impressed with the Coalition’s lack of effort in establishing a federal ICAC. Lambie has previously demanded a federal integrity commission with “more teeth than Jaws”, and also described the government’s proposed model as a “lap dog with dentures”. She has consistently pushed the need for a federal anti-corruption body and was vocal in her support for Independent MP Helen Haines’ 2021 proposal, saying: “I suggest [the Coalition] go and have a good look at her bill and make sure that it looks pretty damn similar… it should be identical, like twins.”
Federal ICAC Now
Surprise, surprise, the minority party Federal ICAC Now (FIN) very much wants some sort of federal ICAC! FIN is a single-issue party: they are pushing for an establishment of a federal anti-corruption commission. FIN will also pursue widespread political donation disclosure, and a five-year moratorium on retiring elected officials being appointed to any government-funded position. They also aim to put limits on donations to political parties by corporations, trade unions, lobby groups and other entities.
FIN was established by independent news publisher, Independent Australia, and is trying to have three candidates elected to the Senate in WA, NSW and QLD – including Independent Australia’s investigations editor, Ross Jones (NSW).
Independents
- Climate 200 Independents: The ‘teal’ candidates – some of whom have become the most high-profile in this election – are a collection of independents, running their own individual campaigns, who have received significant funding, media and other support from political lobby fund, Climate 200. There are 22 candidates being supported by the org, running for both the House of Reps and the Senate. While Climate 200 supporting these candidates based on their promise to support science-backed climate action policy in Parliament, the organisation does not dictate what other platforms or policies the individuals choose to support. Having said this, all Climate 200 independents are also prioritising anti-corruption policy in some way, shape or form – it makes sense, as this is often a driving factor for any independent running in politics.
- Dr Helen Haines: Current MP for Indi (VIC) Dr Helen Haines proposed her own federal integrity commission Bill in 2021. Under her proposal, the commission would be able to initiate its own investigations, take referrals from members of the public, and investigate cases from the past. The watchdog would hold hearings in public and have the ability to make findings of fact, rather than just findings of criminal conduct, e.g. pork-barrelling. However, if a person’s reputation is to be found unfairly damaged by a public hearing, the commission also has the ability to publish a report exonerating them. Haines’ proposal gained quite a lot of support, despite the government blocking attempts to debate it in parliament, including from Liberal MPs Bridget Archer and John Alexander. Haines also receives support from Climate200.
- Andrew Wilkie: Current MP for Clark (TAS), Andrew Wilkie is another experience independent who is very vocal about the need for an anti-corruption body at the federal level. Along with fellow independents, he supported Helen Haines’ bill in 2021. In February 2022, Wilkie introduce his own Cleaning Up Political Donations Bill which proposes reforms including the $1000 cap on donations, a real-time disclosure register, and banning donations from industries including gambling and fossil fuels.
United Australia Party
The United Australia party has surprisingly not said anything concrete about how they would combat corruption in politics… just that they’re not a fan of it. Reassuring.
National Party of Australia
The National Party have no official stance on the need for a national anti-corruption body, and have not advocated for or supported the creation of one while in a Coalition government with the Liberal Party over the past nine years. Make of that what you will.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
Pauline Hanson seems like someone who would be wholeheartedly for the establishment of a national corruption watchdog – after all, she positions herself as an underdog who is sticking it to the political and cultural ‘elite’. But Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party (PHON) has sided with the Coalition in blocking all federal integrity commission debate within parliament. Recently, PHON Senator Malcolm Roberts said the party had “always supported an integrity commission being established for the federal parliament” (despite this quite literally not being the case).
TNL (The New Liberals)
New minority party TNL has had a bit of a time in this election. Originally named ‘The New Liberals’, they were forced by the AEC to change their name to avoid confusion with the Liberal Party. Establishing a Federal ICAC or similar is high on the priority list for TNL, and say their model would include: a board of eight Commissioners who have never been elected officials; a special court to hear cases, with decisions made by jury; legislation to make it an act of corruption to reduce the funding for the new ICAC below establishment levels.
No ‘gotcha’ moments, no reporting on redundant press conferences, no triggering opinion pieces – Zee Feed is covering the 2022 Federal Election in a way that’s better for your brain.
Visit the Election Hub to for straightforward content to help you cast an informed vote.
Comments are closed.