Senator patrick to keep up fight for federal icac

Senator Rex Patrick

Independent Senator Rex Patrick has responded to Prime Minister Morrison’s statement today that he won’t commit to putting his Government’s draft national integrity commission legislation to a vote in the next Parliament.

“Scott Morrison’s proposal for a Federal ICAC was a sham; it was a draft for an integrity commission from someone singularly lacking in political integrity,” Senator Patrick said.

“The Prime Minister had three years to move on this; yet he never actually introduced his Bill into the Parliament. He always knew it was a political fraud that wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny.”

“The truth is the Coalition failed to enact a national anti-corruption commission because under this Prime Minister they are politically corrupt.”

“The Prime Minister’s statement today is perhaps a rare expression of honesty – he really has no interest in a Federal ICAC and only wants to shift blame onto others for that failure.”

“If re-elected to the Senate, I’ll be re-introducing the legislation previously tabled by the Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines, and myself to establish a national integrity commission with real teeth.”

“This is absolutely vital to efforts to fix Australia’s broken and corrupted political system. Establishing a Federal ICAC empowered to turn the blowtorch on corrupt MPs and public servants will continue to be a top priority for me as an Independent Senator.”

/Public Release.