08:51

Just a quick note on the Coalition’s proposed integrity commission.

The shadow attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus, today criticised the government for its lack of progress on establishing a federal integrity commission, something it promised to do in late 2018.

Dreyfus said the proposal was not even on the government’s published legislative agenda for 2019.

But attorney-general, Christian Porter, has reaffirmed the government’s intention to finalise a bill by the end of the year. In a statement to AAP, Porter said the draft was currently being prepared and would be released for public consultation once ready.

”The experience at the state level has been that this is the worst possible area in which to engage in policy on the run,” Porter said.

“This is one area where the hard detailed work must come before the headlines.”





The Coalition’s proposal has faced significant criticism for its weaknesses.

It will be unable to hold public hearings into public sector corruption, cannot take tip-offs from the general public, requires a high threshold of evidence before investigations can begin, and will be unable to make findings of corrupt conduct. Critics say it has been set up in a way that effectively shields politicians.

The Greens have proposed a stronger model and passed legislation through the Senate on Monday with the support of Labor and parts of the crossbench.

The Greens will face a difficult task in getting their legislation before the lower house.