Attorney general Mark Dreyfus says ‘serious and systemic’ past corruption allegations would be part of new commission’s remit
Dreyfus told Radio National the commission “is going to be independent, it’s going to be powerful and it’s going to have the powers of a royal commission.”
“We think that it’s completely inappropriate to suggest that an anti-corruption commission … [would] only be able to look at matters that arose after it was set up.” Dreyfus said that state and territory commissions against corruption use their powers to hold public hearings sparingly and “overwhelmingly” their work was done in private.
“It brings out evidence if people hear of the investigation because the public hearing is being reported on.” The comments raised the possibility that previous programs that were the subject of adverse auditor general reports, including the sports rorts program and the commuter car park program, could be investigated.