Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus refuses to be drawn on whether the high threshold for public hearings under the government's national anti-corruption watchdog was set following negotiations with the coalition.
The federal government's long-awaited integrity commission bill will be scrutinised by a committee of MPs after the opposition provided in-principle support for the new body.
Mr Dreyfus introduced the bill to parliament on Wednesday, outlining how it will operate independently from the government.
The attorney-general defended the decision to allow the commission to conduct private hearings, saying the public will be informed of misconduct and corruption through public reporting.
"I'm not going to go through whose idea was which but I can say that there's been incredibly high levels of participation and co-operation across the parliament in getting the balance right with this legislation," he told ABC radio.
"We are confident that we've got the balance right."
The commission will be able to investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct across the commonwealth public sector.
Public hearings will only be held in "exceptional circumstances".
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton believes the government has the balance right.
He said he doesn't want public hearings to become "show trials".
"I want people who have committed a crime to go to jail," he said.
"I don't want a situation where somebody has their reputation trashed and after a couple of years they don't even know whether or not the investigation is still at hand."
Crossbenchers have raised concerns the "exceptional circumstances" threshold is too high but the government says closed hearings would be the default.
Independent MP Helen Haines said she will closely scrutinise the bill in the coming weeks to ensure it remains a strong watchdog.
"It's not clear why the 'exceptional circumstances' test has been included and I am concerned it creates an unnecessary extra hurdle," she said.
While offering in-principle support, the opposition will wait for a joint parliamentary inquiry to report back on the bill in November before making a final decision.
"You'll normally get the inquiry process, it'll throw up amendments, things we haven't thought of, concerns that haven't been dealt with," Mr Dutton said.
"That's the time at which the party room can consider it but we've got an in-principle stance."
Mr Dutton also thinks the government should consult him as a courtesy on the commissioner's selection.
The joint committee of MPs and senators will report back by November 10.
The committee will accept submissions and hold public hearings.
