Anthony Albanese fires major shot at Scott Morrison with vow to create anti-corruption body

Anthony Albanese has fired a not-so-subtle shot at Scott Morrison with a major promise to Australians if he’s elected on May 21.

Anthony Albanese has thrown down the gauntlet by vowing to legislate a National Anti-Corruption Commission by the end of the year if he is elected on May 21.

The major announcement has been seen as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has been accused of breaking an election promise to create an anti-corruption body – or a “federal ICAC” – during his first term.

As a quick recap, the Morrison government told voters in December 2018 it would create a national integrity commission in the lead up to the 2019 election, but missed its own deadline that year for draft legislation.

The government finally revealed its proposed body in November 2020 – a commission which would not carry out public hearings or release reports of alleged corruption by pollies and public servants – but the legislation needed to get the ball rolling was never actually introduced to parliament.

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Anthony Albanese has vowed to legislate a National Anti-Corruption Commission by the end of the year if he is elected. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Morrison has claimed that a model which allowed greater public scrutiny would lead to a “kangaroo court”, and this week he failed to commit to establishing an integrity commission if he managed to secure a second term next month – and even attempted to blame Labor, after confirming he would only proceed if the ALP supported his controversial model.

As a result, Mr Morrison’s failure to make good on his promise has continued to dog him throughout his campaign, with Mr Albanese piling on the pressure this week and slamming his opponent’s broken promise.

“This Prime Minister just makes promises and walks away from them,” Mr Albanese said on Thursday, branding Mr Morrison’s attempt to deflect blame as “bizarre”.

Mr Morrison has also come under fire from within his own ranks, with Liberal MP for the marginal seat of Bass Bridget Archer previously lashing her government’s “inertia” over the commission debacle, stating she was “perplexed” by the lack of action.

Now, there have been shots fired by the Albanese camp, with the ALP leader promising to make it a top priority within months.

The announcement has been seen as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured at Easter with wife Jenny), who has been accused of breaking an election promise to create an anti-corruption body

Supporters of a new federal integrity commission argue one is needed because the commonwealth government is the only government in the entire country not to have one, with separate anti-corruption commissions present in every state and territory in Australia.

The lack of a national integrity body has been blamed for Australia falling to its lowest level on record in Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index.

“I am proud to announce that a National Anti-Corruption Commission would be one of the first priorities of a government I lead,” Mr Albanese said.

“Mr Morrison has delayed and obfuscated for over three years – and then this week it became clear he has absolutely no intention of honouring his promise to deliver a National Anti-Corruption Commission at all.

“So the question for Mr Morrison is – why do you fear an anti-corruption commission? What is it you’re afraid they will find?”

Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus also vowed to “restore trust and transparency to government”.

“Australians have seen right through Mr Morrison – they know he has no intention of cleaning up his rotten government and no interest in integrity whatsoever,” he said.