‘Massive policy failure’: retired judges blast Morrison’s broken promise on federal Icac

Retired NSW supreme court judge Anthony Whealy, now chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, says the Coalition has avoided establishing a federal anti-corruption commission because it ‘wishes to avoid proper scrutiny and being held publicly accountable’. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Retired judges have criticised the Morrison government’s broken promise on the federal anti-corruption commission as a “massive policy failure”, saying the Coalition’s explanation for walking away from the pledge was “spurious”.

The Coalition is under pressure over its failure to introduce legislation establishing its proposed anti-corruption commission, despite promising to do so prior to the last election.