The National Integrity Committee made a submission on the Consultation Paper for a Commonwealth Integrity Commission. The Committee is an independent group of retired judges assisted by the Australia Institute who have been involved over the last 18 months in advocating the need for a Federal Integrity Commission.

Much of the Committee’s advocacy has been directed to the compelling need for a Federal Integrity Commission. However, the Committee has also been deeply involved in establishing the basic principles necessary for the design of a successful and effective integrity commission. An ineffective commission is worse than no commission at all.

The Committee submits that the omission or downgrading of any of the essential design principles they have identified will actually destroy the effectiveness of a federal anti-corruption body and will allow serious corruption to go largely undetected.