Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Hansard source

The Commonwealth Integrity Commission will have both the resources and the power that it needs to investigate allegations of criminal conduct that could occur across the public sector. The government is keenly aware that many people's lives have been damaged actually, irretrievably and unfairly through being effectively denied procedural fairness through the failings of state anticorruption bodies. The CIC will have extensive powers to compel information and hold compulsory hearings so they can thoroughly investigate allegations of criminal corrupt conduct. Courts, with their well-established procedures to protect individuals' rights, are best placed to determine criminality, not investigative bodies.

The Senate divided. [12:41]

(The President—Senator Parry)