In 2022, the Federal Parliament passed legislation to establish the National Anti-Corruption Commission, a watchdog that will investigate potential corruption at the highest level. It passed with cross-partisan support. The Commission will be operational by mid 2023.

It is clear the National Anti-Corruption Commission will fill a huge gap in Australia's integrity system.

Altogether, 19,000 people signed Australia Institute petitions calling for an effective anti-corruption watchdog at the federal level. Now, thanks in no small part to your support, the National Anti-Corruption Commission is law.

Read more about the Commission.

To Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

It’s time to create an independent anti-corruption watchdog to investigate and expose corruption and serious misconduct at the federal level, including among federal parliamentarians.

The public is sick and tired of the lack of accountability revealed by repeated scandals involving federal politicians and others.

In NSW where an anti-corruption commission is active, serious cases of corruption in political and government circles have been uncovered. Ongoing federal scandals involving federal politicians, whether concerning breaches of travel entitlements, political donations or otherwise, show that the serious wrongdoing uncovered in NSW is unlikely to be limited to the state governments and state politicians.

This is a national issue that cannot be ignored any longer.

Research shows that corruption hinders growth, increases the cost of doing business, and makes genuine reform on issues we care about more difficult. A new commitment to accountability will not just help our democracy, but our economy.