Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus rejected the suggestion that the “exceptional circumstances” clause could leave hearings open to legal challenges.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The exclusive results heighten the debate over the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) when Greens and some crossbench senators want changes to the government’s draft law to ensure public hearings whenever the agency believes it to be in the public interest.
Dreyfus signalled on Wednesday the commission could be legislated by the end of this year given the broad support from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the welcome from most members of the Senate crossbench to the bulk of the plan despite the differences over public hearings.
The attorney-general also said he would “shortly” proceed with a related reform,an update to the Public Interest Disclosure Act,to protect whistleblowers who reveal wrongdoing.
Asked about the powers of the commission,22 per cent said the NACC should have the power to decide what to investigate while 14 per cent said this should be decided by others and 43 per cent said it should be a combination of the two – an approach in line with the government bill.
On the conduct of public hearings,51 per cent agreed with the proposition that more of the hearings should be open to the public,while 27 per cent believed they should be held in “exceptional circumstances” and 22 per cent were undecided.