NSW Attorney-General ​Gabrielle Upton has questioned Labor's commitment to a strong Independent Commission Against Corruption after it decided to oppose proposed legislation granting the watchdog the power to launch prosecutions.

Ms Upton has introduced a bill that she says clarifies the powers of the ICAC and the Police Integrity Commission after two local court judgments questioned ICAC's powers to instigate criminal proceedings.

Liberal NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton wants the ICAC to be able to initiate prosecutions. Credit:Cole Bennetts

The cases involved ICAC's bid to launch prosecutions against former NSW minister Ian Macdonald and former union boss John Maitland, whom the watchdog has found acted corruptly over mining licences.

In their recent review of ICAC powers, former chief justice of Australia Murray Gleeson and senior barrister Bruce McClintock said the change had merit.