Second Liberal Bridget Archer breaks ranks to demand integrity commission

Scott Morrison is facing increasing pressure from within his own party to legislate an integrity commission, with a second Liberal MP calling for an end to ‘political-point’ scoring.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer. Picture: Chris Kidd

Scott Morrison is facing increasing pressure from within his own party to legislate an integrity commission, with a second Liberal MP calling for an end to the “political-point” scoring from his own ­government.

Tasmanian Liberal Bridget Archer crossed the floor last year to support independent Helen Haines’ motion to have her version of an anti-corruption body debated in parliament. Ms Archer was joined on Thursday by NSW colleague John Alexander, who called for an integrity commission to be legislated urgently.

“Each side is happier to score political points than get the job done,” he said. “We need our leaders and parties to come together on this issue.”

Mr Alexander announced last year he was retiring from politics, but denied this was why he was speaking out now. “I think it’s fundamental of those who represent us that we can trust them, that they have integrity,” he said.

He said he had not talked to the Prime Minister or other colleagues about joining Labor, Ms Haines, Ms Archer and the crossbench in calling for the integrity commission to be brought on.

Mr Alexander said he was proud to be associated with Ms Haines and the group of MPs pushing for debate on an integrity commission. “Here is an example of something that needs to be done to regain trust and faith from those who elect us to represent them,” he said. “That’s such an ­important thing.”

The government presented draft legislation for its commonwealth integrity commission in late 2020, with consultation running until March last year.

However, its final model has ­attracted fierce criticism from Labor, the Greens, independents and legal experts because of its narrow scope of offences for which an investigation could be launched, the lack of retrospectivity, and the inability to hold public hearings or make findings public.

An alternative model put together by Ms Haines would hold public hearings, be able to prosecute retrospective investigations and establish a new parliamentary code of conduct.

Ms Haines has for months tried to bring on debate over an integrity commission in the house, while independent Rex Patrick has sought to do so in the Senate.

Ms Archer said she stood with Ms Haines on Thursday “in good faith”. “This issue must be beyond politics,” she said.

Ms Archer said she would not move to suspend standing orders and force debate because it “would be viewed as a stunt”.

“Any integrity commission that is stood up that doesn’t have the support of everybody will not have the confidence it needs to do its job,” she said.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said the only people now blocking a debate were the Prime Minister and his senior ministers.

“Scott Morrison and his government are clearly afraid of this being debated on the floor of the parliament because they know that Labor, the crossbench and dissenting Liberals would form a clear majority,” he said.