It is my view we do need such an independent FBI like entity with the power to investigate and prosecute any one, unlike the NSW one, long ago bent and twisted by both sides to fit their needs we should have one like the NSW one was at its foundation,few may remember the founder of that one, fell because of charges made against him and NSW lost him a good leader, he was found after to have done nothing wrong, if we had such a group its first long list of offenders could be politicians, that may be the reason we will never get one

Do we need something yes, but the FBI model is no good as has been proven by the leaders and there aligning to the Clinton's to not work in the interests of the people.

When Politicians are involved in any way it would go to crap.

I would prefer the swamp drained than an ICAC. Start with the abc.

Whatever it will be needs NO politicians involved.

Even royal commissions are useless because politicians set the terms of reference that it can investigate.

Anything that could effect them they would just as being not part of any investigation.

Dear Belly,

You ask - "Do we need a National ICAC?"

Yes. Definitely!

We're told on the web that -

"The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was
set up in 1988 as an independent organisation to protect
the public interest, prevent breaches of public trust and guide
the conduct of public officials in the NSW public sector."

However, ICAC cannot investigate matters relating to the
public sector of other states or the Australian Public
Service where there's no connection to the NSW public sector
or NSW Public Officials.

It's work is only dealing with the NSW public service.
So it's job is limited only to that state. Plus it can't
investigate allegations of corruption in the private
sector of NSW where there's no connection to the NSW
Public Sector or NSW Public Officials.

It also can't even decide to prosecute those involved
in corruption. Recommendations to prosecute are made by
ICAC to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

So, Yes - we do need an Independent National Commission
Against Corruption - because the NSW ICAC's powers are
limited.

Hi there BELLY old Chap...

I thought we had an FBI styled body, in the Federal Police Force? They enjoy enormous powers in matters associated with narcotic (importation) interdiction, and issues of Organised Crime, and Fraud matters against the C of A. We've also had the NCA (now the AAC) as well as other bodies looking at crimes at the federal level.

As well as several Intelligence gathering bodies. The ABCI, and the various States BCI's, almost a total duplication of the various rolls. Moreover, we've several bodies that exclusively look after Terrorism, PSCC & SAC-PAV. to name just two. Both these bodies have a large Military/Fed Police co-operative body, which seems to work quite well.

What is needed, is a Federal Authority in which to draw together, all the various investigative and Intelligence bodies, into one competent Federal Authority. At the moment there's far too much duplication and petty inter-departmental jealousy, to make many of them in anyway competent; other than perhaps - PSCC & SAC-PAV, because of their military involvement.

I've attended two separate Schools with the FBI in the United States. And there's no doubt, they're one hell of a competent organisation, for sure? Here in Oz, if only they could shed their Departmental/Agency hubris, and petty resentfulness, perhaps greater trust would prevail among the 'warring' groups? I don't know, I've been retired for awhile, consequently I'm somewhat out of touch now?

** My mistake; third line, first paragraph - where you see AAC, it should read ACC (Australian Crime Commission) I apologise for that error.**

My thoughts about ICAC Independent Commission Against Corruption, calls for and demands another C be put there, Crime being that reason,no comment on the Trump stuff, it seems true however that FBI may have helped both sides, now NSW got its ICAC via a Liberal leader, if it was about, and in its first form years before both Askin and Wran, would have been in prison, both lead my state, make no mistake, my ICACC would have the teeth to arrest [outside parliament] any person including the PM, in our country no crime should go unchallenged ever,, both sides in government have changed the rules to make our ICAC a legless lizard in some matters, that too is a crime my ICACC should have the power to stall

Hi Belly, a Federal ICAC akin to that which has operated in NSW for some years is well overdue in my opinion. On balance the NSW body has been successful, generally at the expense of the two big parties. Who will ever forget the likes of Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald and Joe Tripodi from the Labor Party or the conga line of corrupt Liberals exposed. At the local level the ICAC has been very successful at rooting out council graft and corruption. Given the overwhelming "bad press" suffered by the big two parties at the hands of the NSW ICAC, I can understand why they would not like to see one operating federally.

Paul 1405 no defense for the mentioned grubs from within my party Joe and Jane average may never know how bent both Askin and Wrann had been, but while some seem more interested in damning one side I would not trust any of them, we should note a recent very questionable action by a sitting court official in defense of her sons girlfreind was taken out of ICAC hands,surely a system that catches more criminals is worth while, current federal police would no doubt become part of it