The Senate in Australia after several weeks of discussions and discussions has endorsed an anti-corruption legislation meant to improve bureaucratic accountability in government. Key crossbenches senators and the governing coalition endorsed the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Amendment Bill 2024 on Wednesday, late at night.
The bill introduces a new disciplinary chamber connected to the existing National Anti Corruption Commission giving it enlarged investigative functions and a new power to hold public hearing in where there is serious or systematic corruption. It also generates a new law that increases severity in punishment for any public official who is proved to involve his/her self in corrupt activities.
As mentioned political and legal actors have commented on the bill stating that it has the potential to abuse civil liberties, to be used for political vendettas.
Responding to the speech of the senator and the opposition’s spokesperson Jane Smith said, I believe in vigorous anti-corruption measures, however, some of the provisions of this bill are hardly reasonable, and there are no sufficient protection against possible abuses of the powers.
Supporters of the bill for example the Attorney-General Michael Johnson affirm that the bill is necessary in enhancing the public confidence in the government entities.
Johnson, after the passing of the bill in parliament expressed his views in a press conference as follows, This legislation is very clear corruption in any level of government will not be allowed.
The bill has now been forwarded to the House of Representatives, we expect the house to pass the bill due to the dominance of the government. The new measures when implemented will start in early 2025 with the government affirming to provide more funds to facilitate increased activities of the NACC.
The civil society organizations have voiced concern over the use of these new powers seeking that a close observation of the usage be conducted to check on efficiency in fighting corruption.
