The ‘distinctive circumstances’ check for public hearings for Labor’s anti-corruption physique is simpler than for Victoria’s physique — however tougher than the NSW ICAC.
The federal government’s proposed nationwide anti-corruption fee (NACC) can be required to carry hearings in personal except it believes there are distinctive circumstances and it’s within the public curiosity to carry open hearings — much like the much-criticised limitation on Victoria’s hamstrung Impartial Broad-based Anti-Corruption Fee (IBAC).
Nonetheless, the “distinctive circumstances” requirement can be noticeably simpler to fulfill than in Victoria — although not as simply as for the NSW Impartial Fee In opposition to Corruption.
The general public nature of hearings by the brand new physique is the remaining level of main rivalry over Labor’s deliberate physique, given the Coalition believes any public hearings are “present trials”, and with integrity advocates, the Greens and the crossbenches insisting there have to be the choice for open hearings.
