Australia reveals proposed anti-corruption watchdog

Australia's government released details Tuesday of a proposed corruption watchdog that was an important promise in its recent election campaign. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said he would introduce legislation to create the National Anti-Corruption Commission to Parliament on Wednesday.

Dreyfus said it would be up to the commission to decide whether it will investigate any scandals involving the previous government during its nine years in power. The commission would also protect whistle-blowers from punishment for exposing wrongdoing and would not demand that reporters reveal identities of confidential sources, the statement said.

The national watchdog would have $170 million to operate for its first four years, the statement said. The national watchdog would be able to investigate serious or systemic corruption across the entire federal public sector, it said.