Election 2022: Albanese joins objections to Morrison’s ICAC ‘kangaroo court’ claims

Anthony Albanese has renewed his attack on Scott Morrison’s failure to implement an anti-corruption commission.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese in the seat of Chisholm in Victoria on Wednesday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Anthony Albanese has renewed his attack on Scott Morrison’s failure to implement an anti-corruption commission after the Prime Minister warned that Australia could become a “public autocracy” if a new watchdog was given too much power.

Campaigning in the marginal Liberal-held seat of Chisholm in Melbourne, Mr Albanese said the reason why there was no national anti-corruption commission was because Mr Morrison was protecting the Coalition front bench.

Mr Morrison on Wednesday dismissed criticism from ICAC Commissioner Stephen Rushton who lashed out at “buffoons” who had called the commission a “kangaroo court” – a term frequently used by Mr Morrison.

“I stand by what I’ve said about why I don’t think that model is a good model for the federal jurisdiction,” Mr Morrison said. “He (Mr Rushton) can say whatever he likes. I’m not easily offended. I think you’ve learnt that about me. I’m quite resilient when it comes to those. He’s free to disagree with me if he wishes. I just don’t think that their model is the right model at a federal level.”

Mr Albanese said it was “extraordinary” that Mr Morrison had referred to the NSW ICAC as a kangaroo court. “Dominic Perrottet, the Premier of NSW, has also stood up to Scott Morrison on this issue,” he said.

Mr Perrottet defended ICAC on Tuesday, arguing that it played an “important role in upholding integrity and confidence in politicians and in public servants in our state.” He also urged politicians to refrain from making comments that undermined confidence in the integrity agency.

Mr Perrottet agreed Mr Morrison had gone too far in labelling ICAC a kangaroo court. “I would disagree with that,” he said.

Mr Albanese said he would give Mr Perrottet “absolute credit” for his comments and argued there had been too many integrity issues under the federal Coalition including the purchase of land at Leppington Triangle for 10 times its value – $30m instead of $3m – the “sports rorts” affair and pork barrelling through the Commuter Car Park Fund.

He said there had been “scandal after scandal” and that there remained outstanding questions relating to Alan Tudge, who is on unpaid leave from Cabinet.

An investigation was conducted into whether Mr Tudge emotionally and physically abused his former staffer, Rachelle Miller, with whom he had a consensual affair. However, the probe cleared him because of insufficient evidence and the allegations are strongly denied by Mr Tudge.

“What is very clear is that if Australians want a national anti-corruption commission and to clean up politics, they need a Labor government to do so,” Mr Albanese said.