SAEED KHAN AFP SYDNEY Australia's government said on Tuesday it would introduce legislation to create a National Anti-Corruption Commission after years of debate over the need for an independent watchdog for politicians.
The move will restore trust and integrity in politics and funding of A $262 million US $169.8 million will be provided over four years, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Attorney General Mark Dreyfus. A bill is expected to be introduced to the parliament on Wednesday.
The commission will investigate serious or systemic corruption by federal government ministers, parliamentarians, political staff and employees of government entities.
It will have retrospective powers, and be able to make findings of corruption, or refer criminal matters to the federal police or public prosecutors, the statement said.
A New South Wales state corruption watchdog has conducted a series of investigations into politicians and political donations in Australia's biggest state economy, resulting in two Liberal state premiers resigning in the past decade.
The federal Liberal government of Scott Morrison, which lost office in a national election in May, had resisted calls for a federal watchdog after criticism over the public nature of the NSW corruption hearings and the damage to careers even when a corruption finding was not made.
The national commission will be able to hold public hearings in exceptional circumstances and where it is in the public interest, the government statement said.
The findings will be subject to judicial review, the commission said.