This Part establishes the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.

The IPSC consists of:

  (a)   the Commissioners; and

  (b)   persons made available by the CEO to assist the IPSC to perform its functions.

The functions of the IPSC include:

  (a)   assisting the Commissioners in the performance of their functions; and

  (b)   publishing guidance about its functions and the functions of the Commissioners.

The Commissioners are able to investigate conduct issues that arise from a complaint or referral made to the IPSC, or that the Chair Commissioner becomes aware of in any other way.

A conduct issue is an issue of whether a person has engaged in relevant conduct. Relevant conduct means:

  (a)   pre - Code conduct, which is certain conduct engaged in by parliamentarians, MOPS employees or non - core participants before the Behaviour Codes have commenced; or

  (b)   post - Code conduct, which is conduct in breach of a Behaviour Code that is engaged in by any Commonwealth parliamentary workplace participant.

If a person is found to have engaged in such conduct, the Commissioners may:

  (a)   recommend actions to be taken against the person; and

  (b)   if the person is a current or former parliamentarian--impose sanctions on the person; and

  (c)   if the person is a current member of a House of the Parliament and a serious breach finding is made--refer the finding to the Privileges Committee of that House.

Division   4 provides for internal reviews of decisions made by Commissioners.

Division   5 deals with the process for referring a serious breach finding to the Privileges Committee of a House of the Parliament.

Division   6 deals with information - gathering powers, confidentiality notices, and the circumstances in which an entrusted person may record or disclose information.

Division   7 sets out the Commissioners' power to make public statements about conduct issues that were or are before the IPSC.

Division   8 provides protections and immunities for persons who make complaints about or refer conduct issues, or provide other information, under this Act.