CYNICISM about politicians and questioning of their integrity, behaviour and motives has probably never been higher in Australia.
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Yes it's fair to say there has never been huge respect for MPs as a class in the land of the tall poppy syndrome, but nevertheless a grudging respect has been shown towards individuals.
Yet over recent years there has been regular episodes of Canberra politicians rorting the system, whether it be spending $5000 on a helicopter trip or charging taxpayers for high home internet bills.
These scandals, which also saw an MP promote himself on a dating site while overseas, have contributed to the public having a jaundiced view of their representatives.
That opinion would not have been altered by a vote in the House of Representatives this week that saw only five crossbenchers support a motion to have a parliamentary investigation into allegations of illegality involving Crown casino.
Coalition and Labor argued such a probe should not accompany an investigation by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity and suggested parliament was ill-equipped to deal with the matter.
That reasoning seems flimsy considering the array of subjects parliament scrutinises.
On Wednesday those crossbenchers, including the member for Indi Helen Haines, reiterated their concerns about corruption by calling for a national integrity commission.
Dr Haines told a media conference at Parliament House that during the recent election campaign everywhere she went she heard of "the loss of trust in our federal government".
"A federal integrity commission with teeth, one that the people of Australia can trust, is a very important step in restoring trust to this, our federal parliament," she said.
Support for a watchdog with bite by Upper House crossbenchers may force some change on the issue by the government which requires the backing of senators, such as Jacqui Lambie, to pass contentious bills.
Given the lack of public confidence in our institutions, the government and opposition should take the crossbenchers' plea for a national integrity commission seriously.
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