Australia wants an INDEPENDENT Federal Integrity Commission (ICAC) & tough Code of Conduct
Australia wants an INDEPENDENT Federal Integrity Commission (ICAC) & tough Code of Conduct
The issue
On Monday 26th October 2020 - Dr Helen Haines, Independent Member for the Victorian seat of Indi - with the support of other Federal Independent MPs and Senators - introduced the Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 with its strong Parliamentary Code of Conduct requiring politicians to ACT with INTEGRITY into our House of Representatives.
EDIT: But GUESS WHAT Australia? While WE were distracted with the Covid Delta variant, our slow vaccine roll-out, the problems with hotel quarantine and sudden lock-downs - the Government quietly and DELIBERATELY KILLED OFF Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020!
ONLY SEVEN MONTHS LATER! They MUST have been VERY WORRIED about being made ACCOUNTABLE by the Code of Conduct in Dr. Haines' Bill!
Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020
Type Private
Sponsor(s) HAINES, Helen, MP
Originating house House of Representatives
Status Not Proceeding
Parliament no 46
"Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
25 May 2021"
But WHY did they want to get THIS Bill OUT of OUR parliament?
Because they have their OWN Claytons Federal ICAC Bill - waiting to be forced through parliament.
A Bill designed by Christian Porter with clauses ensuring that Parliamentarians and senior bureaucrats CAN'T be investigated at all - unless CRIMINAL corruption is absolutely SUSPECTED!
It's NOT CRIMINAL to ignore policies and procedures PROTECTING the Australian PEOPLE e.g Robodebt - or to not follow correct and best-practice processes that PROTECT the wasting of PUBLIC moneys by funneling OUR money for their OWN self-promotion e.g SportsRorts.
Giving over-generous grants to FAVOURED corporations, allowing corporations and CEOs to influence PUBLIC policy affecting EVERY Australian, and paying BILLIONS way too much for contracted outsourced services is seen as CORRUPTION by MOST of US - but politicians will insist that DELIBERATELY ignoring time-honoured processes and procedures INTENDED to PROTECT Australians and OUR public money - is technically NOT CRIMINAL - therefore THEIR ICAC Commissioner COULD NOT INVESTIGATE further.
In fact the Government's Bill ensures THEIR ICAC Commissioner CAN'T even CRITICISE a Parliamentarian OR their STAFF in ANY ICAC Report!
You can NOW understand WHY the Government HAD to KILL OFF Helen Haines' Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 and WHY Australians should be ANGRY about it!
And WHY the Governments' ICAC Bill has been criticised by MANY ethicists, judges and lawyers - as WORSE than not having a Federal ICAC at ALL?
Nearly EVERY strong, retrospective Integrity Commission Bill has been DENIED by Federal Governments in Australia over the past 11 years - no matter what SIDE of politics the Politician who TRIED to introduce the Bill believed in..
The ONLY Bill still standing now is Larissa Waters' National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) and that is staggering on its last legs and ONLY alive because it was passed by the Senate first!
Why are our Politicians so SCARED of a STRONG Federal Integrity Commission to ensure they are accountable to the Australian PEOPLE and our children and grand-children?
Larissa Water's Bill was even SENT to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on HUMAN RIGHTS for their input - and as you would expect from a committee dominated by the TWO MAJOR parties - there was a LOT of concern about our POLITICIANS' "Human Rights"!
If ONLY they were so concerned about the Human RIGHTS of wrongly and DELIBERATELY targeted Robodebt victims AND the INCREASING amount of WORKING people who cannot afford RENT to keep a roof over their heads?!
I WILL keep this Petition going because Larissa Waters' National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) was originally Independent MP Cathy McGowan's 'National Integrity Commission Bill 2018' but was amended as suggested by major Party politicians and reintroduced to Parliament and OUR MPs are STILL not HAPPY!
However the Government DOES plan to introduce its Claytons Bill - most likely BEFORE the next election to ENSURE they will NEVER be made accountable if they LOSE Government..
(You can read more in the latest petition update)
THAT is the sort of FALSE ICAC they think WE DESERVE and they INTEND us to HAVE no choice but to ACCEPT - before the next election
I guess if you've SIGNED and SHARED this Petition - THEIR 'pretend' ICAC is not GOOD ENOUGH for you either!
IF we give enough SUPPORT to Helen AND the cross-bench - this Bill MAY be able to be reintroduced into OUR Parliament with minor amendments and a new name. WE still WANT that parliamentary Code of Conduct as part of it!
But we will need to SHOW Politicians in MARGINAL seats an EFFECTIVE and TOUGH Federal Integrity Commission is the ONLY kind of ICAC WE the Australian PEOPLE are interested in!
We can START by signing a petition and if they TRY to introduce THEIR Claytons ICAC - bombard MARGINAL MPs with emails and protests outside their offices!
If you are angry about the way OUR wishes are being IGNORED please SIGN and SHARE as much as you can..
Thank you so much!
**ORIGINAL PETITION INFORMATION BELOW**
If PASSED this Bill WILL create a Federal Integrity Commission (Federal ICAC) - INDEPENDENT of ANY Federal Government that happens to be in office - with powers to assess and investigate allegations of corruption in our public sector and in our Houses of Parliament.
A STRONG, RETROSPECTIVE Federal anti-corruption body which will be a long-awaited and exciting change in Australian Federal Politics and FOR the PEOPLE of Australia - who believe this should always have been SEEN by our Politicians as a NON-PARTISAN issue!
The Commission will able to accept referrals from the public and public sector whistleblowers - who will have FULL Whistleblower protection. The Commission will also be able to conduct Public Hearings.
The Commission can investigate retrospectively, so WILL be able to investigate past questionable instances of Conflicts of Interest, Maladministration of Public Moneys and suspected corruption.
Dr. Haines says this Bill was developed in consultation with Government and Opposition Politicians, legal academics, panels of retired Judges, civil society stakeholders and ethicists - so there appears to be no reason WHY Members of ALL political persuasions should have major issues with this Bill.
Petitioners do not agree that the Federal Government has been so busy with the Covid19 Pandemic that there has been no time to debate/pass any anti-corruption legislation as much of the responsibility for the management of the Pandemic has been handed to the States.
Dr. Haines' proposed Integrity Commission will have the power to conduct public hearings in the public interest, balancing the seriousness of allegations with any unfair prejudice to a person’s reputation or unfair exposure of a person’s private life.
Statutory definitions will protect against frivolous or vexatious claims.
The proposed commission will also have the power to make findings of fact and recommendations in a public report.
It would refer matters involving criminality to law enforcement authorities.
The Commissioner will be a Statutory Office holder who is independent of Government. He or she would be supported by several Assistant Commissioners to assist and allow for internal checks and balances.
As part of this Commission there would also be established a new Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians and their staff to be overseen BY the Commission.
The body will also include a Whistleblower Protection Commissioner, particularly necessary as Australia’s Whistleblower protection laws are not at all robust.
Australian Citizen signatories Petition/Request Members of the House of Representatives to ALLOW the Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 be DEBATED in OUR House (during the December sitting of Parliament - which was NOT done) or as soon as possible in the first 3 months of 2021 (once again NOT put onto an Agenda!).
So we NOW request that the Bill be Debated and Voted ON as soon as possible THIS year in 2021
WE the Petitioners also want the Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 PASSED by BOTH the House of Representatives and the Senate and instituted as soon as possible
We request that debate NOT be GAGGED by Government MPs - as has been done on TWO occasions in 2020 with the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) - so that WE the people, can follow the debate and track any amendments made by our Elected representatives.
This is what Australians WANT in their anti-corruption body. Public Servants have a Code of Conduct/Ethics which they are mandated to abide by - so WHY NOT those who MAKE the legislation affecting the LIVES of every Australian?
The Bill also includes external accountability mechanisms to “watch the watchdog” via Parliament and the Courts.
The Bill proposes oversight by a Parliamentary Joint Committee to ensure the body’s compliance with the law, due process and other standards. Its decisions would also be subject to Judicial review.
The Commission’s funding would be approved and safe-guarded by the overseeing Joint Parliamentary Committee, as well, which will provide financial protection so it cannot have its funding cut by a vengeful partisan Government.
This is VERY important to Australians as the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has had its budget severely cut following its revelations of corruption in Government.
What Australians WANT is an INDEPENDENT anti-corruption body that will PREVENT corruption and if by chance corruption DOES happen - ensure those responsible are penalised just like any other Australian who BREAKS the Law
Petitioners are AWARE that Prime Minister John Howard PROMISED Australians in 2006 a strong anti-corruption body which never eventuated - and that in the past 10 YEARS the Australian Greens and Independent MPs have introduced SIX different Bills into Parliament for a strong independent Federal Anti-Corruption body in Australia.
Each Bill has been ignored by being gagged and left to die or voted down in our Parliament by various Governments
Those who have signed this Petition are NOT satisfied that the current Draft Legislation for a Commonwealth Integrity Commission tabled by past Attorney-General Christian Porter MP - WILL result in the strong, independent and retrospective body that WE the people want.
We view this Draft Bill as a serious disappointment after waiting so long and we do NOT want Australia's money WASTED on an anti-corruption Commission so weak - it will be unable to provide the oversight and protection that the Australian people need.
We the Petitioners believe that the Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 will result in a Commission that is strong, independent and will protect the Australian PEOPLE'S best interests.
Australians will be most CONCERNED if we find our Elected Representatives in both the House of Representatives and the Senate do NOT put the Australian PEOPLE'S interests and wishes FIRST.
3,355
The issue
On Monday 26th October 2020 - Dr Helen Haines, Independent Member for the Victorian seat of Indi - with the support of other Federal Independent MPs and Senators - introduced the Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 with its strong Parliamentary Code of Conduct requiring politicians to ACT with INTEGRITY into our House of Representatives.
EDIT: But GUESS WHAT Australia? While WE were distracted with the Covid Delta variant, our slow vaccine roll-out, the problems with hotel quarantine and sudden lock-downs - the Government quietly and DELIBERATELY KILLED OFF Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020!
ONLY SEVEN MONTHS LATER! They MUST have been VERY WORRIED about being made ACCOUNTABLE by the Code of Conduct in Dr. Haines' Bill!
Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020
Type Private
Sponsor(s) HAINES, Helen, MP
Originating house House of Representatives
Status Not Proceeding
Parliament no 46
"Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
25 May 2021"
But WHY did they want to get THIS Bill OUT of OUR parliament?
Because they have their OWN Claytons Federal ICAC Bill - waiting to be forced through parliament.
A Bill designed by Christian Porter with clauses ensuring that Parliamentarians and senior bureaucrats CAN'T be investigated at all - unless CRIMINAL corruption is absolutely SUSPECTED!
It's NOT CRIMINAL to ignore policies and procedures PROTECTING the Australian PEOPLE e.g Robodebt - or to not follow correct and best-practice processes that PROTECT the wasting of PUBLIC moneys by funneling OUR money for their OWN self-promotion e.g SportsRorts.
Giving over-generous grants to FAVOURED corporations, allowing corporations and CEOs to influence PUBLIC policy affecting EVERY Australian, and paying BILLIONS way too much for contracted outsourced services is seen as CORRUPTION by MOST of US - but politicians will insist that DELIBERATELY ignoring time-honoured processes and procedures INTENDED to PROTECT Australians and OUR public money - is technically NOT CRIMINAL - therefore THEIR ICAC Commissioner COULD NOT INVESTIGATE further.
In fact the Government's Bill ensures THEIR ICAC Commissioner CAN'T even CRITICISE a Parliamentarian OR their STAFF in ANY ICAC Report!
You can NOW understand WHY the Government HAD to KILL OFF Helen Haines' Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 and WHY Australians should be ANGRY about it!
And WHY the Governments' ICAC Bill has been criticised by MANY ethicists, judges and lawyers - as WORSE than not having a Federal ICAC at ALL?
Nearly EVERY strong, retrospective Integrity Commission Bill has been DENIED by Federal Governments in Australia over the past 11 years - no matter what SIDE of politics the Politician who TRIED to introduce the Bill believed in..
The ONLY Bill still standing now is Larissa Waters' National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) and that is staggering on its last legs and ONLY alive because it was passed by the Senate first!
Why are our Politicians so SCARED of a STRONG Federal Integrity Commission to ensure they are accountable to the Australian PEOPLE and our children and grand-children?
Larissa Water's Bill was even SENT to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on HUMAN RIGHTS for their input - and as you would expect from a committee dominated by the TWO MAJOR parties - there was a LOT of concern about our POLITICIANS' "Human Rights"!
If ONLY they were so concerned about the Human RIGHTS of wrongly and DELIBERATELY targeted Robodebt victims AND the INCREASING amount of WORKING people who cannot afford RENT to keep a roof over their heads?!
I WILL keep this Petition going because Larissa Waters' National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) was originally Independent MP Cathy McGowan's 'National Integrity Commission Bill 2018' but was amended as suggested by major Party politicians and reintroduced to Parliament and OUR MPs are STILL not HAPPY!
However the Government DOES plan to introduce its Claytons Bill - most likely BEFORE the next election to ENSURE they will NEVER be made accountable if they LOSE Government..
(You can read more in the latest petition update)
THAT is the sort of FALSE ICAC they think WE DESERVE and they INTEND us to HAVE no choice but to ACCEPT - before the next election
I guess if you've SIGNED and SHARED this Petition - THEIR 'pretend' ICAC is not GOOD ENOUGH for you either!
IF we give enough SUPPORT to Helen AND the cross-bench - this Bill MAY be able to be reintroduced into OUR Parliament with minor amendments and a new name. WE still WANT that parliamentary Code of Conduct as part of it!
But we will need to SHOW Politicians in MARGINAL seats an EFFECTIVE and TOUGH Federal Integrity Commission is the ONLY kind of ICAC WE the Australian PEOPLE are interested in!
We can START by signing a petition and if they TRY to introduce THEIR Claytons ICAC - bombard MARGINAL MPs with emails and protests outside their offices!
If you are angry about the way OUR wishes are being IGNORED please SIGN and SHARE as much as you can..
Thank you so much!
**ORIGINAL PETITION INFORMATION BELOW**
If PASSED this Bill WILL create a Federal Integrity Commission (Federal ICAC) - INDEPENDENT of ANY Federal Government that happens to be in office - with powers to assess and investigate allegations of corruption in our public sector and in our Houses of Parliament.
A STRONG, RETROSPECTIVE Federal anti-corruption body which will be a long-awaited and exciting change in Australian Federal Politics and FOR the PEOPLE of Australia - who believe this should always have been SEEN by our Politicians as a NON-PARTISAN issue!
The Commission will able to accept referrals from the public and public sector whistleblowers - who will have FULL Whistleblower protection. The Commission will also be able to conduct Public Hearings.
The Commission can investigate retrospectively, so WILL be able to investigate past questionable instances of Conflicts of Interest, Maladministration of Public Moneys and suspected corruption.
Dr. Haines says this Bill was developed in consultation with Government and Opposition Politicians, legal academics, panels of retired Judges, civil society stakeholders and ethicists - so there appears to be no reason WHY Members of ALL political persuasions should have major issues with this Bill.
Petitioners do not agree that the Federal Government has been so busy with the Covid19 Pandemic that there has been no time to debate/pass any anti-corruption legislation as much of the responsibility for the management of the Pandemic has been handed to the States.
Dr. Haines' proposed Integrity Commission will have the power to conduct public hearings in the public interest, balancing the seriousness of allegations with any unfair prejudice to a person’s reputation or unfair exposure of a person’s private life.
Statutory definitions will protect against frivolous or vexatious claims.
The proposed commission will also have the power to make findings of fact and recommendations in a public report.
It would refer matters involving criminality to law enforcement authorities.
The Commissioner will be a Statutory Office holder who is independent of Government. He or she would be supported by several Assistant Commissioners to assist and allow for internal checks and balances.
As part of this Commission there would also be established a new Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians and their staff to be overseen BY the Commission.
The body will also include a Whistleblower Protection Commissioner, particularly necessary as Australia’s Whistleblower protection laws are not at all robust.
Australian Citizen signatories Petition/Request Members of the House of Representatives to ALLOW the Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 be DEBATED in OUR House (during the December sitting of Parliament - which was NOT done) or as soon as possible in the first 3 months of 2021 (once again NOT put onto an Agenda!).
So we NOW request that the Bill be Debated and Voted ON as soon as possible THIS year in 2021
WE the Petitioners also want the Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 PASSED by BOTH the House of Representatives and the Senate and instituted as soon as possible
We request that debate NOT be GAGGED by Government MPs - as has been done on TWO occasions in 2020 with the National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 (No. 2) - so that WE the people, can follow the debate and track any amendments made by our Elected representatives.
This is what Australians WANT in their anti-corruption body. Public Servants have a Code of Conduct/Ethics which they are mandated to abide by - so WHY NOT those who MAKE the legislation affecting the LIVES of every Australian?
The Bill also includes external accountability mechanisms to “watch the watchdog” via Parliament and the Courts.
The Bill proposes oversight by a Parliamentary Joint Committee to ensure the body’s compliance with the law, due process and other standards. Its decisions would also be subject to Judicial review.
The Commission’s funding would be approved and safe-guarded by the overseeing Joint Parliamentary Committee, as well, which will provide financial protection so it cannot have its funding cut by a vengeful partisan Government.
This is VERY important to Australians as the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has had its budget severely cut following its revelations of corruption in Government.
What Australians WANT is an INDEPENDENT anti-corruption body that will PREVENT corruption and if by chance corruption DOES happen - ensure those responsible are penalised just like any other Australian who BREAKS the Law
Petitioners are AWARE that Prime Minister John Howard PROMISED Australians in 2006 a strong anti-corruption body which never eventuated - and that in the past 10 YEARS the Australian Greens and Independent MPs have introduced SIX different Bills into Parliament for a strong independent Federal Anti-Corruption body in Australia.
Each Bill has been ignored by being gagged and left to die or voted down in our Parliament by various Governments
Those who have signed this Petition are NOT satisfied that the current Draft Legislation for a Commonwealth Integrity Commission tabled by past Attorney-General Christian Porter MP - WILL result in the strong, independent and retrospective body that WE the people want.
We view this Draft Bill as a serious disappointment after waiting so long and we do NOT want Australia's money WASTED on an anti-corruption Commission so weak - it will be unable to provide the oversight and protection that the Australian people need.
We the Petitioners believe that the Australian Federal Integrity Commission Bill 2020 will result in a Commission that is strong, independent and will protect the Australian PEOPLE'S best interests.
Australians will be most CONCERNED if we find our Elected Representatives in both the House of Representatives and the Senate do NOT put the Australian PEOPLE'S interests and wishes FIRST.
3,355
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 8 November 2020