Australia’s leaders divided over to anti-corruption investigation protocols

Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has slammed the design of the New South Wales independent anti-Corruption investigation unit. He says it’s a flawed model that has damaged innocent people. This follows conflicting protocols that force leaders to step aside while being investigated.

Leader’s divided

On Friday, now-former Premier of Australia’s most populous state, Gladys Berejiklian resigned, amid a corruption scandal. The independent body (ICAC) who is conducting the investigation requires anyone involved to step down while it takes place.

Dominic Perreottet is now the Premier of New South Wales and has stepped in to guide the state through a critical time in its Covid-19 pandemic.

Premier for Melbourne and the state of Victoria, Daniel Andrews is now involved in his own Anti-Corruption Commission investigation but refuses to step aside, and questions have emerged about the conflicting rules and protocols for Australian leaders who are caught up in these kinds of investigations.

Mr Andrews is being investigated by The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in Victoria, over favourable dealings with the United Firefighters Union, in 2014.

"If he is being investigated… he needs to be standing aside."

– @DavidDavisMP on Melbourne's leader @DanielAndrewsMP facing #IBAC anti-corruption investigations but refusing to step down. pic.twitter.com/iYVorGgKGK

— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) October 7, 2021

Calls for a National Watchdog

Australia’s Prime Minister has condemned the treatment of Berejiklian, arguing the system assumes people are guilty before proven they’re proven to be innocent.

With many politicians and analysts now calling for a watchdog at the Federal level as well. But, the Prime Minister has pushed back against this idea.

“We know that a strong watchdog and a spotlight beaming upon the conduct of Government Ministers…

ensure that you’re going to get a better quality of Government… it is a deterrent to corruption.”

Stephen Jones, Australian Shadow Financial Services Minister 

Should Australia introduce a Federal Corruption Watchdog?

PM @ScottMorrisonMP has pushed-back at the idea, but @StephenJonesMP is convinced otherwise: pic.twitter.com/hxH6lQTb6A

— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) October 6, 2021

“The reason politicians are so scared of the NSW anti-corruption watchdog, is that it’s so effective.”

Ben O’Quist, The Australia Institute

The Australian PM has slammed the design of the #NSW corruption watchdog. @BenOquist of @TheAusInstitute says there's one reason politicians are "scared" of the system: pic.twitter.com/PETZchuqQq

— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) October 6, 2021