Senate debate on integrity body stymied
The Morrison government has voted down an attempt to have the Senate debate the establishment of a federal anti-corruption watchdog.
Independent Senator Rex Patrick on Tuesday sought to change the upper house's program to discuss the issue.
The government has yet to release its proposed legislation for an anti-corruption commission despite promising to do so before an election due in the first half of 2022.
Greens senator Larissa Waters claimed the government didn't want a watchdog with teeth because it would put half of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's cabinet under investigation.
"The prime minister couldn't lie straight in bed," she told the Senate.
Independent Jacqui Lambie likened the government's 2019 election promise to introduce legislation to a baby.
"That baby has made more progress in 1000 days than the Liberal party has on their own bill. Shameful," she told the Senate.
"We know it is something that will look like a gummy shark, no teeth."
Liberal senators opposed the move, arguing there were important bills to be debated.
But Senator Waters said the government was prepared to set aside time to debate issues such as religious discrimination, voter ID laws, and a failed One Nation bill seeking to scrap vaccine mandates.
The Senate voted 25-25 which negated Senator Patrick's attempt.
