National Anti-Corruption Commissioner faces grilling after resignation, misconduct probe

National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton will face a grilling by senators at estimates hearings today following his shock resignation on Monday, as well as the departure of his deputy earlier this month.

The showdown comes amid growing calls for a reset of the three-year old corruption watchdog, and changes to how its commissioners are appointed.

It will also be the first time Brereton will face questions since it was confirmed that a second "officer misconduct" investigation was underway into the NACC commissioner, in relation to his undisclosed and ongoing ties to defence.

Indi MP Helen Haines, who spearheaded a campaign for a national anti-corruption body, said it had let down the public.

"The focus on the commissioner has in many ways overshadowed what was to be, and what I am confident can be very very fine work from Australia's most powerful anti-corruption commission," Haines said.

"We need to have a very clear and transparent recruitment process for our commissioners, these are extraordinarily important roles.

"[And] the public needs to see that conflicts of interest and perceived conflicts of interest are declared and managed."

Save the Children has welcome the news a group of Australian children, and their mothers, with links to Islamic State fighters could return home within days.

The ABC has confirmed the government is aware the group, which includes seven women and 13 children, have booked flights home.

Nine members of the group are expected to arrive in Melbourne, with the rest understood to be travelling to Sydney. Some of the women could face terror-related charges on arrival in Australia.

Matt Tinkler, Save the Children's chief, says the political debate surrounding the group's return has been "deeply disappointing".

"As Australian citizens, it was always a matter of ‘when’ these women and children came home, not ‘if’," he says.

“While much attention has focused on the circumstances of the mothers, two-thirds of the returning group are children. Australia must prioritise their safety, wellbeing and right to live in this country as Australian citizens.

"If any of the women have been exposed to radicalisation, or if there is any evidence that crimes may have been committed, Australia’s judicial and national security system is best placed to assess and manage any risks.”

Hi friends. Welcome to our daily federal politics live blog.

I'm Courtney Gould from the ABC's Parliament House team, here and ready to guide you through the day.

From tax to the teals to the NACC commissioner, it's all happening right now. While the government is focused on continue the hard budget sell, Senate estimates powers on. It's expected Paul Brereton, who confirmed he's stepping down from the anti-corruption watchdog, will be grilled by senators this morning.

Let's get blogging!