16th Jun 2020, 12:29 PM – Representatives Resolutions of the Senate - National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) - Consideration of Senate Message

The majority voted in favour of a motion "That the message be considered at the next sitting." The "message" in this case was one from the Senate which, among other things:

(b) calls on the Federal Government to bring on the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) in the House for a vote in the June 2020 sittings. The Senate requests the concurrence of the House of Representatives in this resolution.

In other words, while the majority of the Senate was seeking to speed up consideration of the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2), the majority of the House of Representatives wanted to delay it.

Senate message text

The Senate transmits to the House of Representatives the following resolution which was agreed to by the Senate this day:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Senate passed the Australian Greens' National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) on 9 September 2019 to establish a federal corruption watchdog with broad remit to investigate allegations of corruption and misconduct, and to ensure strong, independent oversight of the actions of parliamentarians;

(ii) the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) was sent to the House of Representatives for debate on 10 September 2019, but has yet to be debated;

(iii) on 10 February 2020, the Senate resolved to call on the House to vote on the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2);

(iv) the Government ignored this call and has prevented all attempts to debate and vote on the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) in the House;

(v) public consultation on the Commonwealth Integrity Commission model proposed by the Government ended nearly eighteen months ago, but the Government has yet to introduce legislation to establish an integrity commission;

(vi) in May 2020, the Attorney-General said that legislation to establish a Commonwealth Integrity Commission would be further delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite an exposure draft being "ready for release"; and

(vii) polls consistently show that the majority of Australians support the establishment of a strong national integrity body; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to bring on the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) in the House for a vote in the June 2020 sittings. The Senate requests the concurrence of the House of Representatives in this resolution.

The Senate requests the concurrence of the House of Representatives in this resolution.