By Andrew Clark, originally published in the Australian Financial Review, 7th March 2020. A nation consumed with the coronavirus emergency may also soon connect with another political contagion infecting the Morrison government. The issue is the so-called sports rorts affair and the government’s resistance to a push for a tough ICAC-style federal anti-corruption body that… Read More
As more details emerge on the sports grants saga, clubs that missed out want answers
By Nadia Daly, 7.30 Report on 13th February 2020. NADIA DALY, REPORTER: Every afternoon, locals in Belconnen in Canberra’s north, grab a racquet and head to their local tennis club. But when the sun goes down, having a hit becomes a bit harder for some players. MARTIN KLEIN, PRESIDENT, BELCONNEN TENNIS CLUB: Tennis is a… Read More
7.30: How North Sydney Council won a $10 million pool upgrade grant earmarked for regions
By Paul Farrell, 7.30 Report, 26th February 2020. PAUL FARREL, REPORTER: Beneath the Sydney Harbour bridge, surrounded by world famous landmarks, sits one of the nation’s most picturesque pools. ZOE BAKER, NORTH SYDNEY COUNCILLOR: North Sydney Olympic Pool is, I’d say, a national icon. It’s an art deco pool that most of the world records… Read More
Program released for National Integrity Forum: Strangling Accountability
The National Integrity Forum: Strangling Accountability will be held on 19 March at the University of Sydney Law School. Speakers include: The Hon Mary Gaudron QC on secret government The Hon Marilyn Warren AC on the judiciary Professor John McMillan AO on the Ombudsman Tony Harris on the Auditor General Richard Beasley SC on Royal… Read More
More than $100m donated to political parties from hidden sources in election year
By Christopher Knaus, originally published in the Guardian 11th February 2020. More than $100m in political donations from hidden sources was donated to the major parties during the election year, the greatest single amount in two decades. The Centre for Public Integrity has analysed the volume of so-called “dark money” – political party income with… Read More
RN Breakfast: Centre for Public Integrity prompts calls for creation of federal anti-corruption commission
Interview with Geoffrey Watson SC on RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly 11th February 2020. Llew O’Brien has been elected Deputy Speaker after defecting the Nationals party yesterday. The former Queensland police officer is a staunch supporter of a federal anti-corruption commission with strong powers. Calls for a so-called federal ICAC have intensified in recent weeks,… Read More
In the bag: a $1 billion stash of secretive political donations
By David Crowe, originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald 7th February 2020. Secrecy is so essential to politics that governments and political parties will go to any lengths to hide what they do, but there is a way to measure the space where sunlight does not reach. The ritual disclosure of political donations this… Read More
Opinion: McKenzie is the sacrificial lamb, but corruption runs deeper
By Stephen Charles, originally published Canberra Times 7th February 2020. If the Prime Minister thinks he has alleviated any public concerns that the Coalition government behaved improperly in the management of the sports grants program, or whether the only error was in Senator McKenzie’s membership of a Wangaratta shooting club, he is mistaken. Former judge… Read More
7.30: Government grants – how are they run and who benefits?
By Paul Farrell, originally published 5th February 2020 on ABC 7.30. PAUL FARRELL, REPORTER: The Cronulla Sailing Club boasts million dollar views on Gunnamatta Bay, in the Prime Minister’s electorate of Cook.In 2017, it received some welcome news. It had secured a Federal Government grant. One of thousands awarded in electorates across the country, under… Read More
Liberal party received $4.1m in donations from property tycoon’s company
By Paul Karp and Chris Knaus, originally published in the Guardian 3rd February 2020. The Liberal party received $4.1m from a single donor before the 2019 election, one of the largest amounts in political history, dwarfing former leader Malcolm Turnbull’s $1.75m gift before the 2016 election. The donations, revealed in Australian Electoral Commission disclosures published… Read More