Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator Wong, I move:

(1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on a National Integrity Commission, be established to inquire into and report on the establishment of a national integrity commission, with particular reference to:

(a) the adequacy of the Australian Government's legislative, institutional and policy framework in addressing all facets of institutional, organisational, political and electoral, and individual corruption and misconduct, with reference to:

  (i) the effectiveness of the current federal and state/territory agencies and commissions in preventing, investigating and prosecuting corruption and misconduct,

  (ii) the interrelation between federal and state/territory agencies and commissions, and

  (iii) the nature and extent of coercive powers possessed by the various agencies and commissions, and whether those coercive powers are consistent with fundamental democratic principles;

(b) whether a federal integrity commission should be established to address institutional, organisational, political and electoral, and individual corruption and misconduct, with reference to:

  (i) the scope of coverage by any national integrity commission,

  (ii) the legislative and regulatory powers required by any national integrity commission to enable effective operation,

  (iii) the advantages and disadvantages associated with domestic and international models of integrity and anti­-corruption commissions/agencies,

  (iv) whether any national integrity commission should have broader educational powers,

  (v) the necessity of any privacy and/or secrecy provisions,

  (vi) any budgetary and resourcing considerations, and

  (vii) any reporting accountability considerations; and

(c) any related matters.

(2) That the committee present its final report on or before 15 August 2017.

(3) That the committee have power to consider and use for its purposes the minutes of evidence and records of the previous Select Committee relating to the establishment of a National Integrity Commission, appointed on 24 February 2016.

(4) That the committee consist of seven senators:

(a) two nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate;

(b) two nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate;

(c) one nominated by the Leader of the Australian Greens;

(d) one nominated by the Nick Xenophon Team; and

(e) one nominated by the Leader of Derryn Hinch's Justice Party.

(5) That:

(a) participating members may be appointed to the committee on the nomination of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate or any minority party or independent senator; and

(b) participating members may participate in hearings of evidence and deliberations of the committee, and have all the rights of members of the committee, but may not vote on any questions before the committee.

(6) The presence of a quorum for the committee and any subcommittee be determined in accordance with the provisions of standing order 29.

(7) That the committee may proceed to the dispatch of business notwithstanding that not all members have been duly nominated and appointed and notwithstanding any vacancy.

(8) That the committee elect as chair one of the members nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and as deputy chair the member nominated by the Nick Xenophon Team.

(9) That the deputy chair shall act as chair when the chair is absent from a meeting of the committee or the position of chair is temporarily vacant.

(10) That, in the event of an equality of voting, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, have a casting vote.

(11) That the committee and any subcommittee have power to send for and examine persons and documents, to move from place to place, to sit in public or in private, notwithstanding any prorogation of the Parliament or dissolution of the House of Representatives, and have leave to report from time to time its proceedings and the evidence taken and such interim recommendations as it may deem fit.

(12) That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members, and to refer to any such subcommittee any of the matters which the committee is empowered to consider.

(13) That the committee be provided with all necessary staff, facilities and resources and be empowered to appoint persons with specialist knowledge for the purposes of the committee with the approval of the President.

(14) That the committee be empowered to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it, and a daily Hansard be published of such proceedings as take place in public.

Question agreed to.