{"id":56006,"date":"2021-10-13T17:12:30","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T06:12:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=56006"},"modified":"2021-10-14T21:50:31","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T10:50:31","slug":"haines-declares-war-over-federal-integrity-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/haines-declares-war-over-federal-integrity-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Haines declares war over Federal Integrity Commission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/helenhaines.png?resize=834%2C417&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-55027\" width=\"834\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/helenhaines.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/helenhaines.png?resize=300%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/helenhaines.png?resize=768%2C384&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/helenhaines.png?resize=600%2C300&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 834px) 100vw, 834px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>Helen Haines, federal Member for Indi (Photo: Wayne Jansson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/webplayer.whooshkaa.com\/player\/episode\/id\/916356?theme=light&amp;waveform-progress-color=%23FA6800&amp;play-video-if-available=true\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>The independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines, has accused the Prime Minister of <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\u201cpulling the wool over our eyes<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\u201d on a Federal Integrity Commission (FIC) by proposing an MP <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\u201cprotection commission<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\u201d, and pledged to force Coalition MPs to vote on her bill during parliamentary sittings beginning next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also linked climate policy with the need for a FIC in a #transitzone interview to be published soon: \u201cIntegrity and climate are so inextricably linked because what we don\u2019t know &#8211; because there is no transparency &#8211; we don&#8217;t know who is currying favor with our elected officials when it comes to policy on climate,\u201d Haines said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s why the crossbench, I think, have led the nation on the debate on integrity and on climate, because they sit together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe government is not for real. That\u2019s patently clear,\u201d she said, citing \u201cthe delays, the misinformation, the egregious activities alleged that have happened over the last year and the complete stalling of any federal government legislation\u201d. She added that the government\u2019s draft legislation, still not introduced to parliament nearly a year after its release, \u201cis a complete and utter sham\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Haines, the government\u2019s draft bill established a strong FIC for police and the border force law and an almost meaningless one for politicians and senior public servants, including a ban on whistleblowers reporting wrongdoing, no investigation of political corruption not a criminal offence, no public hearings, no public report and a ban on even implied criticism of a politician or staffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a very special design by Mr Morrison and his team to absolutely and utterly set up a protection commission for MPs and senior departmental staff. It\u2019s a complete and utter nonsense. If I was them I\u2019d be embarrassed to step out in public to say this. The hubris of this, if it wasn\u2019t so serious it would be hilarious.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a broken promise that I think is of such proportion that any person out there trying to make a decision on who they might vote for would do well to think about what it says about a government who tried to pull the wool over our eyes about something as fundamental as integrity. It\u2019s extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In October last year, after the government failed to introduce legislation despite an 2019 election pledge to enact a FIC within 12 months, Ms Haines introduced&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.helenhaines.org\/bills\/integrity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">her FIC bill<\/a>&nbsp;and won the support of Labor, the Greens and every cross-bencher in the House of Representatives and the Senate to debate it in parliament. She planned to move a motion to suspend standing orders to debate the bill, but the Prime Minister brought wavering Coalition MPs into line by releasing draft legislation for a weak FIT for yet more consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms Haines said she\u2019d agreed to requests by sympathetic Coalition MPs for time to see how consultations played out, but nearly a year later, with no progress she\u2019d had enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe allow=\"autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"175\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.podcasts.apple.com\/au\/podcast\/its-time-for-a-federal-icac\/id1512522030?i=1000497888490\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been doing considerable work with my colleagues to find a way to bring back my bill and to debate that. There are several parliamentary tools at my disposal,\u201d she said. They include&nbsp;reintroducing her bill to the House of Representatives and moving a motion for immediate debate or the Senate passing her bill. Both would force Coalition MPs to vote against debate or crossing the floor, putting them on record before the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWatch this space. I won\u2019t be silent on this, I refuse to be silent on this,\u201d she said, and predicted the government could counter by introducing its proposed sham FIC and sending it to a committee to avoid any parliamentary debate or vote before the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Classic Obfuscation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Haines, this would be the latest Morrison tactic to make it easier \u201cfor Coalition MPs considering exercising their right to make a conscience vote and not vote with their party\u201d to close ranks, she said, but every knowledgeable person had \u201ctrashed (the government\u2019s) bill as completely unworkable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She warned Coalition MPs that \u201cthe Opposition could be quite happy\u201d if that Morrison tactic worked. \u201cIt\u2019s a tremendously strong argument going into an election that Morrison broke <em>the<\/em> most fundamental promise of his election campaign on integrity. The irony of that is breathtaking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms Haines said the government\u2019s attempt this month to set up a \u201cfalse dichotomy\u2019 between the NSW ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) or nothing was <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\u201cmischievous\u201d and \u201cclassic obfuscation\u201d, as was Sunday\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/InsidersABC\/status\/1446968819776294915?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">confirmation by communications Minister Paul Fletcher<\/a>&nbsp;that the government would not countenance public hearings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe cannot have the public blind to the findings of a body set up to ensure we have a pro-integrity government. It\u2019s look over here politics&#8230; it\u2019s so clear they do not wish to do this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Centre for Public Integrity\u2019s&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/publicintegrity.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Weakest-watchdog-FINAL-4.10.21-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>comparison of the&nbsp; State FICs, Haines\u2019 bill and the Government\u2019s draft bill<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"964\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac1.png?resize=964%2C560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56007\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac1.png?w=964&amp;ssl=1 964w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac1.png?resize=300%2C174&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac1.png?resize=768%2C446&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac1.png?resize=600%2C349&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 964px) 100vw, 964px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"952\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac2.png?resize=952%2C612&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac2.png?w=952&amp;ssl=1 952w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac2.png?resize=300%2C193&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac2.png?resize=768%2C494&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/icac2.png?resize=600%2C386&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2>Summary of Government inaction on a FIT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite all states and territories enacting anti-corruption bodies, Labor first committed to a Federal Integrity Commission in January 2018 and pledged at the 2019 election to enact one a within 12 months of taking office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Coalition remained adamantly opposed &#8211; Morrison called it <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\u201ca fringe issue<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\u201d &#8211; until his hand was forced by a crossbench push after Kerryn Phelps won the Wentworth by-election saw&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/australia-news\/2018\/nov\/14\/crossbenchers-to-push-forward-with-bill-for-anti-corruption-body\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cathy McGowan introduce a bill in November 2018 and attract support from a National Party backbencher<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cornered, Morrison stalled momentum by reversing his opposition to any FIT and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/australia-news\/2018\/dec\/13\/morrison-government-announces-new-federal-anti-corruption-commission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">releasing an outline of an extremely weak bill<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; no whistleblower referrals, no public hearings, no public findings, only criminal offences investigated &#8211; with a request for submissions by mid February 2019. At the May 2019 election, he matched Labor\u2019s pledge to establish a FIT within a year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In August 2019, Attorney-General Christian Porter told parliament he was finalising legislation to present to the house by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the following month,&nbsp;the Senate passed&nbsp;the Greens version of the McGowan bill backed by Labor, the Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie; and after a Coalition backbencher said the government\u2019s draft bill was too weak and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/australia-news\/2019\/nov\/21\/lnp-mp-may-cross-floor-over-federal-integrity-commission-legislation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">he could cross the floor<\/a>,&nbsp;Porter abandoned his pledge and sat on his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing happened until October 2020, when Helen Haines introduced a modified version of McGowan\u2019s bill to parliament and won the support of Labor, the Greens and every House of Representatives crossbencher to debate it. She needed just two Coalition backbenchers to cross the floor, and momentum seemed unstoppable. Again, Morrison stalled it when&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashurst.com\/en\/news-and-insights\/legal-updates\/the-government-unveils-its-proposed-commonwealth-integrity-commission\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Porter released draft legislation<\/a>&nbsp;at last but delayed its passage with yet more consultation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing happened, again, until carpark rorting revelations saw new Attorney-General Michaelia Cash&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/politics\/federal\/corruption-watchdog-coming-as-car-parks-drive-more-questions-20210725-p58cnb.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">promise Parliament in July<\/a>&nbsp;she would introduce legislation by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This month, however, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce questioned the need for any Federal Integrity Commission after the resignation of Gladys Berejiklian, and assistant minister&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/radionational\/programs\/breakfast\/amanda-stoker-federal-anti-corruption-body\/13570016\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amanda Stoker said<\/a>&nbsp;she merely \u201choped\u201d to introduce the government\u2019s legislation this year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A detailed Australia Institute timeline can be accessed&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/australiainstitute.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Commonwealth-Integrity-Commission-timeline-Web.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/webplayer.whooshkaa.com\/player\/episode\/id\/916356?theme=light&amp;waveform-progress-color=%23FA6800&amp;play-video-if-available=true\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Transit Zone podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/podcast-birds-eye-view-of-mackellarvotes-for-transitzone\">Bird&#8217;s eye view of #MackellarVotes for #transitzone<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The independent MP for Indi, Helen Haines, has accused the Prime Minister of \u201cpulling the wool over our eyes\u201d on a Federal Integrity Commission (FIC) by proposing an MP \u201cprotection commission\u201d, and pledged to force Coalition MPs to vote on her bill during parliamentary sittings beginning next week. She also linked climate policy with the [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":54765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3434,2969,3330,3402,3493,585,3317,26],"tags":[802,3336,3335,2143,850,567,2565],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/icac.png?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t0mw-ezk","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56006"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56006"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56076,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56006\/revisions\/56076"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}