The New South Wales treasurer, Matt Kean, believes the creation of a federal anti-corruption body is vital to safeguard Australia’s economic prosperity and rule of law.
Just months out from the federal election, Kean used a speech to highlight the importance of “strong anti-corruption bodies” to hold every level of government accountable.
The comments come after the federal attorney general, Michaelia Cash, in February dumped the Coalition’s 2019 election promise to create a commonwealth integrity commission.
Speaking at a private event as part of the Social Good Summit Australia – a United Nations Foundation affiliate – earlier this month, Kean made his case for the body.
“Our economic prosperity is built on the strength of our society,” he told the audience.
“Our commerce depends on our security and safety. Our contracts depend on the rule of law and a judicial system that is free from corruption, and that’s why we need strong anti-corruption bodies – not just at the state level but also at the national level.”
The Guardian understands the comments were made off the cuff and were not included in the written version of the speech later uploaded to the senior Coalition figure’s website.
Kean has a history of needling his federal counterparts over issues including action on climate change and, most recently, on Covid economic support.
High-profile investigations by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption have divided members of the Liberal party room, most recently after the former premier Gladys Berejiklian resigned from her role during a probe in September.
At the time, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, labelled the commission a “kangaroo court” and said the inquiry involving Berejiklian was “an absolute disgrace”.
In late February the body found the former NSW Labor MP Ernest Wong engaged in corrupt conduct by concealing illegal political donations and then trying to get one of the fake donors to lie about it.
Investigations by the NSW body have also led to the resignation of former Liberal premier Barry O’Farrell and the expulsion of former MP Eddie Obeid from the Labor party, before he was jailed.
The key word in Kean’s comment was “strong”, said Bill Browne, the senior researcher for the Australia Institute’s democracy and accountability program.
He said a stronger commission than the model laid out in draft legislation presented by the Morrison government in 2020 was needed to ensure it had the right powers to do its job effectively.
“It’s reassuring to hear calls from senior Liberals for an integrity commission and, more than that, a strong integrity commission at the federal level,” he said.
“NSW – with Icac – has one of the stronger integrity commissions in Australia and we’ve seen the benefits that that can bring with exposing corruption where it exists.
“The fact that we’re hearing now from senior Liberals demonstrates that the issue has been dragged out for too long.”
The premier, Dominic Perrottet, last year told the National Press Club that he supported the role of the commission in the state.
“Icac in NSW plays a very important role in preventing corruption and uncovering corruption,” he said.
“Ultimately, what we should be doing is instilling confidence, not taking it away.”
Integrity is expected to shape up as a key federal election issue, with Labor and high-profile independents to campaign on the Coalition’s broken promise.
In February, the Liberal MP for Bass, Bridget Archer, crossed the floor to support an independent integrity bill introduced by the Victorian independent MP Helen Haines.
Archer criticised the government for failing to bring its own integrity bill to parliament, calling it “the most important thing we need to do” in this term.
The same month, the moderate Liberal MP Jason Falinski told the Guardian the government should have introduced its proposed federal integrity commission to “start the debate”.
“I am really disappointed that we are not going to put legislation to the parliament,” the Sydney MP said.
Kean also said in his speech work needed to be done to ensure the state was an “educated society” and emphasised the importance of acting on climate change amid devastating floods.
“The reality is that our economic prosperity does not come at the expense of the environment, it depends on it,” he said.
This week the Guardian revealed the NSW Labor party would commit to independent funding for the state’s anti-corruption watchdog if it wins the next election.
