“The National Anti-Corruption Commission was founded three years ago with great hope that it would expose federal wrongdoing, but it has so far failed to live up to its promise,” said Bill Browne, Director of The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program.

“The next Anti-Corruption Commissioner will have to rebuild public trust. This is best done in the open, so Australians can see the NACC at work – but the existing restrictions on public hearings make that difficult.

“The Albanese Government and the Parliament could set the next NACC Commissioner up for success by allowing public hearings whenever they are in the public interest, as supported by two in three Australians.

“The Australia Institute has identified five ways to restore trust and integrity in the NACC, including removing the government veto in the NACC’s oversight committee and establishing a whistleblower protection authority.”