The Senate has just passed the #NACC Bill. It won’t be the blind and toothless corruption watchdog Morrison reluctantly proposed, but with public hearings only in “exceptional circumstances” it’ll be a watchdog with only one ear and rarely be seen outside its kennel. #auspol 
Open hearings allow the public to see the allegations being investigated, the evidence, the counterfactuals, and most importantly, the conduct of counsel assisting and the Corruption Commissioner him or herself. They allow the public to be the scrutineers. #auspol
On the contrary, hearings shrouded in secrecy undermine the public’s confidence in the Commission and any findings and reports it may make.
Open hearings also assist in flushing out further instances of what’s happening, or further evidence. If people observing public hearings realise that issues are being fully explored by a commission, they are more likely to come forward or be more willing to cooperate. #auspol
Open hearings help to inform and educate the public, public servants, politicians and institutions by reinforcing the rules by which public administration must be conducted. #auspol
Labor has diminished the NACC. And they have done so in their own political self interest because, knowing the fallibility of their own team, they fear an integrity commission that can put a public spotlight on corruption. #auspol
.@zalisteggall summarised the situation well: “It’s a good bill but not a great bill, and it is one that may well fail to deliver what Australians so clearly want: a return to transparency, accountability and integrity in Australian politics.” #auspol
Human nature and politics being what they are, it’s inevitable that at some time in the future one of Labor’s own will be mired in allegations of corruption. When that happens, secrecy will magnify the political damage and Labor will rue the day they decided against transparency.
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