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The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has walked back an election promise to legislate a new federal anti-corruption commission by year’s end, saying the government’s pledge is only to introduce the bill to parliament.
After this week’s sitting of parliament was cancelled after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the government has come under pressure over the fate of its new national anti-corruption commission, legislation for which was due to be introduced this week.
Ahead of the 21 May election, Labor promised to legislate “a powerful, transparent and independent national anti-corruption commission by the end of 2022”, with the commitment made on a number of occasions since by the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus.
Albanese announced on Monday that parliament would make up the lost sitting days arising from the official period of mourning by sitting on Friday 23 September for condolence motions to mark the Queen’s death, and then 26-28 September for general parliamentary business.
However, even with the revised sitting calendar, there are now limited sitting days left, before parliament rises for the year, for the new integrity bill to pass.
