Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the proposal on Thursday and said the government had been working on it since January, despite recently calling it a “fringe issue”.

"This is a real proposal with real resources, real teeth," he said.

The Integrity Commission will have two divisions, one focused on law enforcement and the second on public administration including the conduct of politicians.

The discussion paper for the plan says the law enforcement division will have the power to compel the production of documents, question people, hold public and private hearings, arrest suspects, enter and search premises, seize evidence, undertake controlled operations, and undertake integrity testing.

Indi MP Ms McGowan said she would look at the government’s proposal alongside the National Integrity Commission Bill she introduced in November.

“It is significant to see the government announce a proposal for an integrity commission,” she said.

“I will hold the government to high standards while working through the final details.

“Any national integrity body needs to be robust and transparent to ensure it enhances public trust in the Parliament and public sector.”

Submissions in the public consultation process for the federal government’s integrity proposal can be emailed to anticorruption@ag.gov.au until 5pm on February 1.