Restoring integrity to Australian governance – by improving the transparency and accountability of public decision-making – has become one of the most important issues for many Australian voters. In the lead-up to Victoria’s 2022 state election, the integrity of both major parties has been called into question – and improving integrity is a top consideration for all age groups among Victorian voters.

But solving this integrity problem requires far more than blaming one person or party; it is a structural problem stemming from a growing lack of governmental accountability. This structural problem requires a structural solution. It therefore requires more than just (the important) substantive law reform such as tightening laws that regulate lobbying and campaign finance and increasing the powers of specialised integrity institutions. It also requires the powers of the cornerstone institution of Australia’s integrity system – Parliament – to be restored. To achieve this, parliament’s powers to ensure governmental transparency and accountability as well as its own financial independence must be restored.