Federal ICAC to have ‘greater powers’ than Royal Commission
Politicians, public servants, federal police and university staff could have their phones tapped, homes searched and be jailed for two years for failing to give evidence to a proposed new anti-corruption watchdog.
NSW
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Politicians, public servants, federal police and university staff could have their phones tapped, homes searched and be jailed for two years for failing to give evidence to a proposed new anti-corruption watchdog.
The Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC) would target federal parliamentarians, departments and agencies, using “greater powers than a Royal Commission”, Attorney-General Christian Porter has revealed.
Mr Porter said the body would be tasked with investigating “serious criminal conduct that one might label corruption” outlined in an extensive list of 143 offences.
“Australians rightly expect that those working in the public sector — including politicians and their staff — are held to the highest standards of honesty and accountability, which is why the new CIC has been given the most significant powers and resources to detect and deter criminal activity and enhance the public sector’s long-term resilience,” he said.
Unlike the NSW ICAC, the CIC would not hold public hearings for matters related to politicians and bureaucrats. Instead it would be used to discover potential criminal activity and prepare a brief for the Director of Public Prosecutions, with the matter secret until it reaches court.
“The government takes the view that ultimately a court should be making a public determination of guilt or innocence, not a report … we have been clear you have to find the right balance between preserving people’s liberties and rights in the criminal justice system,” Mr Porter said.
The CIC would have discretion to hold public hearings in instances of corruption in “law enforcement”.
Labor’s shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus said the proposed CIC was disappointing as it lacked the ability to launch its own investigation, would not hold public hearings in most cases and was limited to “criminal offences”.
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