A national integrity commission ranked as the second most important issue for voters canvassed by independent candidates in Goldstein,Mackellar and Wentworth,where independents are hoping to knock off Liberal MPs,as well as Warringah,where Zali Steggall is campaigning to retain the seat she won from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019.
Alexander said the attorney-general and shadow attorney-general needed to get involved,as well as independent MP Helen Haines and outspoken Tasmanian Liberal MPBridget Archer,who crossed the floor in support of debating Haines’ integrity commission model,suggesting they be put “in a room with lawyers” until common ground was reached.
“I don’t think it’s the worst thing if it’s being alleged that it’s very weak. Float it and see where it leaks,and as it leaks,fix it up. It would be good if it’s next term we can get it started,” Alexander said.
Loading
North Sydney Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman,who is fighting to hold his seat against independent candidate Kylea Tink,said he would support an integrity commission being introduced to the next parliament,but with caveats that proved unacceptable to Labor in the previous term.
“I don’t want a federal commission that can destroy careers through a public hearing process without the evidentiary requirements you would normally expect in a court of law,” Zimmerman said.
Goldstein Liberal MP Tim Wilson,who is up against independent candidate Zoe Daniel,would not be drawn on whether the Coalition should introduce a plan for a national integrity commission in the next term of government,and challenged the “fake independents” to declare who they would support in a hung parliament.