He clearly doesn’t understand the concept of the separation of powers.
There are three elements to government, separate but related: the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary.In this system, the Legislature (or the Parliament as it is called in Australia) passes the laws, the Executive (or Public Service) makes them work and the Judiciary make sure that they are working fairly and justly. An ICAC would be part of the Judiciary made up of lawyers and judges.
Morrison clearly does not understand this demonstrated by this quote in THE AGE where he said: “We can’t just hand government over to faceless officials to make decisions that impact the lives of Australians from one end of the country to the other. I actually think there’s a great danger in that”
Later he reiterated the point emphasising the risks of handing sweeping powers to unelected officials
Establishing a Federal ICAC does not “hand government over to faceless officials”. It allows one of the arms of government, the Judiciary, to perform its proper functions: conducting judicial inquiries.
Morrison has also been scathing about the performance of the NSW ICAC which he believes (incorrectly) forced the resignation of ex-Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption commissioner Stephen Rushton blasted “buffoons” who had labelled the commission a “kangaroo court” – a term the prime minister has used multiple times.
Clearly, no love lost there.
The overwhelming national support for an independent commission at a Federal level is clear evidence that the Australian public is sufficiently convinced that there is extensive corruption in the current government that needs investigation.
The fact that the Prime Minister promised a Federal ICAC at the last election and then reneged on that promise. That he now continues to double down on his refusal only confirms the suspicions of the Australian electorate of that something is rotten.
Tim Haslett's Blog 