Media release: NACC Resignation Underscores Need for Stronger Integrity Agency Safeguards, New Centre for Public Integrity Report Shows the Way

About the Report

The Centre for Public Integrity today released a major new position paper bringing together the Centre’s work on how Australia’s core integrity agencies can be designed to secure both independence and accountability. The report, Beyond Labels: Securing Functional Independence for Core Integrity Agencies, examines the institutional design of three key integrity agencies — anti-corruption commissions, auditors-general and ombudsman offices — and proposes reforms to strengthen their ability to hold public power to account.

Key Findings and Recommendations

Integrity institutions play a vital role in Australia’s democracy by safeguarding public trust, exposing corruption and maladministration, and ensuring the effective and lawful use of public resources. The report identifies three critical “levers” that can undermine the independence of integrity agencies if left subject to executive control: funding; appointments; and oversight arrangements.

• Independent and transparent funding processes, including separate appropriations arrangements for integrity agencies, and the involvement of an Independent Funding Panel
• Legislated merit-based appointments processes involving independent selection panels and non-government-dominated parliamentary oversight committees
• Robust but carefully designed oversight mechanisms, including independent inspectors for agencies exercising coercive powers

Context and Importance

The report comes amid renewed public debate about the independence of key accountability institutions, and follows recent controversies surrounding the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The Centre argues that these reforms are necessary to ensure integrity agencies can effectively perform their democratic role of holding public power to account and maintaining public trust in government.