The Albanese government's national anti-corruption watchdog is expected to have broad backing in parliament, despite lingering concerns about the high threshold for public hearings.
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The lower house's schedule has been cleared on Tuesday and Wednesday for the National Anti-Corruption Commission legislation to be debated and passed before it heads to the Senate.
The Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday approved government amendments to the legislation, which were welcomed by the opposition.
The amendments included broader protections for journalists and their sources, surveillance warrants needing to be approved by eligible judges, while also requiring the commissioner to tell people under an investigation the inquiry's outcome.
Independent senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock have indicated they will support the government's legislation to deliver the commission when it reaches the Senate.
Under the government's model, public hearings would only be held in "exceptional circumstances".
Senator Pocock said the high bar remained an issue, but a commission was long overdue.
Senator Lambie said the exceptional circumstances test smacked of a deal done between the government and coalition to ensure bipartisanship.
"We want police on the beat and we want it to get started now," she told the ABC on Tuesday.
Liberal frontbencher James Paterson said the change to ensure surveillance and interception warrants are approved by superior court judges, rather than members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, was especially welcome.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Monday called for cross-party support for the bill.
"This government stands ready to deliver, and I call on all sides of the parliament to join us in that task," Mr Dreyfus said.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley told reporters in Albury on Sunday that "agreements" had been made to deliver the commission.
Ahead of the bill returning to parliament, integrity organisations have issued a joint statement calling for the threshold of public hearings being held only in exceptional circumstances to be removed.
Chair of the Centre for Public Integrity Anthony Whealy said the threshold would limit accountability.
"The proposed exceptional circumstances test is a serious restriction on the commission's ability to hold public hearings - even where it would be in the public interest to do so," he said.
The anti-corruption body is set to cost $262 million over the next four years.
It would operate independently of the government, and have powers to investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct across the Commonwealth public sector.
But Mr Dreyfus has previously defended his government's proposed body, saying national security concerns and court proceedings were among the reasons public hearings should not be the default.
The Albanese government pledged at the May election to legislate an integrity commission before the end of the year.
Australian Associated Press
