Federal Icac should have power to sack parliamentarians, independent MP says

The new independent MP for the seat of North Sydney, Kylea Tink, says she wants to see a code of conduct for parliament that has consequences for MPs, suggesting the new integrity commission could be empowered to sack parliamentarians if necessary.

Tink said a general code of conduct was needed that covered everyone who worked in parliament house, from MPs in all parties, to those who worked in the gift shop, that outlined what behaviour was unacceptable.

She also said it could potentially interact with the new federal integrity commission, legislation for which the government has promised to introduce by the end of the year.

Tink said that MPs putting their job on the line was no different to most employees who signed up to a workplace code of conduct and faced consequences for breaches.

The leader of the house, Tony Burke, met crossbench MPs on Thursday to continue discussions about standing orders for the new parliament, which are expected to boost their rights to speak including to ask questions in question time.

Guardian Australia understands this includes consideration of shorter sitting hours or a deadline on divisions, so critical votes are not conducted in the evening.

Haines and fellow independent Zoe Daniel both described the talks as productive and constructive. Talks did not canvass the proposed cut to crossbench staffers from eight to five, which the MPs will seek to agitate with the prime minister when he returns from Europe.

The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has also begun consultations with the crossbench on the national integrity commission, starting with Haines on Thursday and set to continue next week with a roundtable of integrity experts.

The government is considering introducing the integrity commission bill in the early September sitting, allowing enough time for an inquiry and a final vote in 2022.

Tink said she had been encouraged by her discussions with the new government, saying she believed there was a genuine desire to engage constructively.