Australian judges unite to make 'urgent' call ahead of federal election & More Trending News

The 31 former judges have penned an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Labor chief Albanese, Greens chief Adam Bandt, One Nation chief Pauline Hanson, United Australia Party founder Clive Palmer and “all Australian political leaders”, calling on them to introduce a nationwide integrity fee within the subsequent parliament.

“We are retired judges who believe that a national integrity commission is urgently needed to fill the gaps in our integrity system and restore trust in our political processes,” the letter reads.

“Despite recent criticisms of anti-corruption commissions, the widely accepted case for a well-designed national integrity commission remains impregnable.”

The group of former judges is principally made up of former QCs and consists of former choose of the High Court of Australia Mary Gaudron QC, former choose of the Supreme Court of WA and of the Federal Court of Australia Michael Barker QC and former choose of the Victorian Court of Appeal John Batt AM.

The letter insists Australia’s current federal our bodies “lack the necessary jurisdiction, powers and know-how to investigate properly the impartiality and bona-fides of decisions made by, and conduct of, the federal government and public sector”.

“Without the commission we envisage, the right of Australians to have their taxes employed for the maximum national advantage will not always prevail over the corrupt exercise of power,” it states.

When requested in regards to the letter whereas campaigning within the marginal Victorian seat of Corangamite this morning, Morrison appeared to brush off the judges’ calls.

“It’s a free country. I express opinions on judges myself and on courts from time to time,” he stated.

“I’m happy for them to make their contribution.”

However, he stated the federal government would press ahead with its personal plan for an integrity watchdog.

Morrison has proposed to create a Commonwealth integrity fee that would maintain public hearings for inquiries into police or public officers, however not politicians, if he’s re-elected.

The proposed fee wouldn’t be allowed to launch its personal investigations or act on suggestions from the general public.

Morrison has beforehand stated his promise to create a federal anti-corruption fee in 2018 didn’t eventuate as a result of Labor didn’t help the Coalition’s mannequin.

It would have the opportunity to maintain public hearings, launch its personal investigations, act on public suggestions, concern public findings of corruption, Albanese has stated.