The South Australian Government is mired in a culture of secrecy and cover-ups, having quashed a move to allow the Independent Commission Against Corruption to hold public hearings, the state Opposition says.

Commissioner Bruce Lander has called for the power to hold public hearings, something the Government has long opposed.

A bill to allow open hearings passed the Legislative Council, but failed to pass the Lower House, with the Government and independents voting against it.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the Government had something to hide.

"This Government has a toxic culture of cover-up and secrecy at every opportunity, whether it be shield laws, whether it be protections for whistleblowers," he said.

Mr Marshall said the Government had also turned its back on victims of the disgraced Oakden nursing home.

"[Commissioner Lander] specifically requested public hearings regarding Oakden, and the Government, with the independents, have used their numbers to block that," Mr Marshall said.

"They do not want to see any further public scrutiny on the disgraceful episode which is the Oakden crisis."

Public hearings will damage government workings

Premier Jay Weatherill said public hearings could allow unsubstantiated allegations to be aired, which would make a minister's job untenable.

"Once it becomes apparent that you're called before such an inquiry, the process of guilt sticks to you," he said.

"It will damage the workings of government, it won't protect those families of the Oakden victims.

"They will get a proper and full public explanation of this inquiry when it's published later this year."

Mr Marshall said he would introduce public hearings if he won next year's election.