Scott Morrison cops questions over 'trust' and a federal ICAC, blames Labor

Well it has been flung back at him on Thursday over his broken promise to legislate a federal integrity commission.

It was already known that the promise for the last term of Parliament would never be made. Under sustained pressure on Thursday from the travelling press pack, it was clear there are no plans to change course if the Morrison government wins on May 21.

First question to the Prime Minister, "if you can't deliver on what you promise how can Australians trust what you say?"

Pivot.

"Let me tell you what we have achieved," replied Mr Morrison as he sought to have his own conversation. If we already did not know that this was not Mr Morrison's favourite subject, he then embarked on a three minute answer not relating to a federal ICAC.

Suddenly, days of press pack un-coordination disappeared. The journalists stayed on course.

"You promised you would establish one and you haven't established one," said one. Not a question, more a fact check.

The answer was the status quo, which quietly is that the legislation was drafted and not introduced despite a majority government. Read that how you will.

"We put forward our proposal in detailed legislation and it is not being supported by the Labor party," he stated.

He then went down his well worn line of attack that has upset legal professionals.

"I'm not going to introduce a kangaroo court. I'm not going to introduce a policy that I don't think is in the nation's best interest and how it would be corrupted by a Labor party that's more interested in playing politics with this issue than addressing the real issues," Mr Morrison said.

"I put forward a detailed plan, a detailed proposal, which the Labor Party rejects.

"So I've honoured my proposal, the Labor party don't support it. That's where the issue rests."

There it is.

No federal integrity commission this term. Not the next one either.

Most legal experts regard the Coalition model as far too weak, so does Labor, The Greens and every member of the crossbench. Independent Helen Haines has her own model. Polling indicates, including ACM's pre-election reader's survey, Australians regard integrity as a top vote-swinging issue. An Australia Institute poll has found seven in 10 Australians (69 per cent) agree that not legislating a federal ICAC represents a broken election pledge by the Coalition.

Mr Morrison happened to be campaigning in Tasmania alongside local member for the extremely marginal seat Bass, Bridget Archer. She is one of three Liberal MPs who supported bringing on debate on the Haines proposal.

Under questioning on Thursday, she declared she "certainly did not support the Labor model" and had always believed in a bipartisan approach.

The Prime Minister was taken back to his broken promises several times, over a federal ICAC and yet to be built commuter car parks. Mr Morrison did not budge, he said his priority is 'jobs, jobs, jobs." But it is a crucial policy debate and it is much needed scrutiny. Let there be more of it.