Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Maeve Bannister and Dominic Giannini

No corruption debate delay from Labor: PM

The government is not to blame for any delay in anti-corruption legislation, Anthony Albanese says. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Any delays to legislating a federal anti-corruption commission following the Queen's death will not rest at Labor's feet, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.

The government's long-awaited proposal for an anti-corruption watchdog was due to be presented this week but parliament was suspended following the death of the monarch.

Instead, parliament will meet at the end of September and Labor will be ready to vote on the bill immediately, Mr Albanese said.

"I am confident at least 77 members of the House of Representatives will vote for that legislation, they're the Labor members," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"We are ready to vote for it in September. If there is any delay, it won't be because of the Labor Party."

The legislation has been through cabinet and will go to the Labor caucus when it meets on September 27 before being introduced to parliament.

It will then be referred to a committee involving MPs and senators from the government, opposition and cross bench for an inquiry.

While Mr Albanese is confident a commission will be legislated by the end of the year, several independent MPs are worried they will not have the time to properly consider the proposal.

Independent member Helen Haines, who has been a fierce advocate for a national anti-corruption body, said the government must allow adequate time for the parliament to scrutinise the legislation.

Dr Haines said she would work to ensure there were no further delays.

"It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get the best integrity model possible and the most important thing is that parliament works constructively to get it right," she said.

Fellow crossbencher Zoe Daniel called on the government to release its proposed watchdog model to speed up its passing through parliament.

"The attorney-general could help stick to the timetable if he would make the legislation public right now, enabling consultation to be more informed and expedited."

Opposition frontbencher Stuart Robert said the coalition - having gone to the election with a different model of integrity body - was open to "constructive debate" on the bill.

"There is always room to talk it through," Mr Robert told the ABC.

"We're looking forward to a wide-ranging discussion on transparency and integrity."

Independent senator David Pocock, who holds a key vote in the upper house, is keen to see the bill before parliament returns.

Another crossbench senator, Jacqui Lambie, has no problem with a delay to the bill if the legislation can be improved.

"You can't eat a half-cooked chook. It's got to be fully baked," she told Guardian Australia.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.