"I have no doubts about that,because they don't get any disciplinary action,nothing happens to them.
"Until we put some laws in order to make sure that they are penalised,or locked away for their actions,then we're going to continue going over the same ground year after year after year."
'I've had a gutful':Jacqui Lambie joined other crossbenchers in backing a federal anti-corruption commission "with teeth".Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
Senator Lambie issued a direct plea to whistleblowers to take their concerns to herself or the other crossbenchers so they could air them under parliamentary privilege.
"We have no fear and we have the advantage of privilege in the chamber,"she said.
"If you've got documents you want to produce to us,and you don't want to be named,I tell you what:we have no fear in standing up in the chamber and calling them out for what is going on here.
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"So please,if you have evidence of any corruption that is going on then please come to one of these people."
Senator Lambie made the call when flanked by Mr Wilkie and fellow independents Helen Haines and Zali Steggall,as well as Greens MP Adam Bandt and Centre Alliance members Rebekha Sharkie,Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff.
Attorney-General Christian Porter is preparing a bill to establish a Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC),which would absorb the existing Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI).
Illustration:Matt GoldingCredit:
Mr Porter has separatelyreferred the Crown revelations to the ACLEI although it is up to the commission to decide whether to investigate.
Advocates for the federal commission warned that the CIC would not be strong enough compared with similar agencies in other countries.
"If it is legislated,the CIC will be the weakest watchdog in the country and would not be able to investigate the Crown case,"said Hannah Aulby,the executive director of the Centre for Public Integrity.
Mr Harper,an advocate for the reform as a member of the Australia Institute's National Integrity Committee,said an effective watchdog had to be able to launch its own inquiries,hold public hearings and examine politicians.
"I accept that ACLEI would do the best job it possibly can with the reference it's got,assuming that it accepts that reference - it doesn't have to;it may decline to do anything,"Mr Harper said.
"But if it does accept the reference,it won't be able to examine the part,if any,that has been played by members of Parliament in the Crown saga.
"And that,of course,is a real problem when you're investigating allegations that take in the activities of MPs."