Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, on 30 December 2018, you promised Australia a robust federal integrity commission. On 8 September, it will be 1,000 days since you made that promise. It became your election promise. Australians are still waiting, Prime Minister. Will you commit to passing a robust bill before 1,000 days are up on 8 September?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] I thank the member for the question. The Minister representing the Attorney-General will add, I imagine, to my answer. What I would note is that the government has already moved to expand the jurisdiction of the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from January of this year. ACLEI was given jurisdiction over four additional agencies—the ATO, ASIC, APRA and the ACCC. In the 2021-22 budget, ACLEI was funded a further $54.3 million over the forward estimates to support its expanded jurisdiction. That includes $51.9 million in operating funding and $2.4 million in capital funding to establish an office in Melbourne. Draft legislation to establish the Commonwealth Integrity Commission was released for public consultation on 2 November of last year, and submissions closed on 12 February of this year. That consultation is critical to this process. After the government has considered feedback on that draft legislation, we will look to finalise the model and determine likely support before introducing legislation into the parliament. The Minister representing the Attorney-General may wish to add to that, but, if he believes that covers the matter, then that would be my response.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do believe that the Prime Minister's excellent answer covers the matter.