Acting ACT Chief Minister Yvette Berry says it's more likely an independent integrity commission will be up and running by mid-2019, instead of by the end of the year.
Ms Berry corrected the record, after announcing on Monday the anti-corruption body would begin operating in 2018.
Legislative Assembly Question Time. Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry.
Photo: Dion Georgopoulos"This is due to the need for discussions with the Commonwealth [regarding] ACT Police involvement, further work with the select committee on the draft legislation and the recruitment of a Commissioner," Ms Berry said.
"Our goal is to get draft legislation to the committee, as per their recommendation, as soon as possible for them to consider. Depending on how long they take, we would aim to have legislation in the Assembly by the end of the year."
The commission will have the power to investigate serious accusations of corruption against ACT public servants, MLAs and their staffers, as well as statutory officeholders, including boards and committees.
It would also have the ability to investigation allegations against ACT police officers, pending agreement from Peter Dutton's new Home Affairs mega-portfolio.
Once a bill is drafted, it will go to the select committee into the creation of the independent integrity commission for scrutiny, before being tabled in the Assembly and debated.
Chair of the committee, Greens minister Shane Rattenbury already flagged potential conflict over the ability of the body to dig into past scandals.
The Canberra Liberals are also likely to push for the commission to have stronger powers, after what leader Alistair Coe described as "a list of property scandals as long as your arm".
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