Originally published by ABC’s The Signal podcast.Listen to the full story here.
Big, big government is running a big, big advertising campaign
By Tom Dusevic, originally published on October 22 in The Australian. You can get it readin’. You can get it drivin’. You can get it scrollin’ your social feed. In 2020, a big, big government is running a big, big advertising campaign. Since April, the Morrison government has launched $135m of new taxpayer-funded advertising to… Read More
ICAC turmoil: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian ‘pretty dumb but not involved in corruption’
By Stephen Rice, originally published on October 16 in The Australian Most legal observers believe NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is guilty of shocking judgment in her relationship with disgraced former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire — but not of any crime. And on the evidence so far, it appears unlikely the ICAC inquiry would make serious… Read More
Federal anti-ICAC forces ‘to exploit sympathy for Gladys Berejiklian’s plight’
By Stephen Rice, originally published on October 19 in The Australian. The last time Stephen Charles QC heard the words “my little mate” at a corruption inquiry was 34 years ago, as a young barrister probing the scandal that nearly ended the reign of legendary NSW premier Neville Wran. A few days ago he listened… Read More
Jobs for their boys: Public purse pays as MPs hire their own children
By Michael Fowler, originally posted by The Age on 22 October. A Victorian Labor MP paid his son thousands of taxpayer dollars to work in his Melbourne office, reigniting calls for a review of rules allowing state politicians to employ relatives. Labor MP for Hawthorn John Kennedy has confirmed he hired his son as an… Read More
Border Force subject to corruption investigation after millions paid to ship builder
By Nick McKenzie and Charlotte Grieve, originally posted by the Age on 21 October. The Australian Border Force is the target of a corruption investigation over allegations that it improperly funnelled $39 million from a national security project to sharemarket-listed defence company Austal to prop up its financial position. But the investigation into the suspected corruption of the… Read More
Louise Waterhouse met with top officials and Angus Taylor over land near Western Sydney airport
Christopher Knaus, originally published in the Guardian on 17 October. Three federal infrastructure department officials and federal MP Angus Taylor separately met with Louise Waterhouse while she lobbied for potentially lucrative changes to her vast landholdings near the Western Sydney airport. The meetings, which anti-corruption experts say are a “rarity for the average citizen”, have prompted calls… Read More
Crossbench still waiting for government talks on federal anti-corruption body
By Nick Bonyhady, originally published by Brisbane Times 14 October. Months after the government said it would restart talks over its proposed federal anti-corruption body, crossbench senators are still waiting to hear from Attorney-General Christian Porter. Following renewed calls for a national integrity commission triggered by the sacking of Victorian state minister Adem Somyurek in… Read More
‘Poor Gladys’ rings hollow after premier’s ICAC grilling
By Mike Seccombe, originally published by the Saturday Paper on the 17th of October.In its unique way, the defence of Gladys Berejiklian, following her appearance before the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) this week, was as sexist as any of the attacks we have seen on female politicians. Call it the “poor… Read More
NSW Premier refuses to resign
By Annie Guest on AM, originally published by ABC on the 13th of October. After the political bombshell no one saw coming, Gladys Berejiklian is this morning digging in as New South Wales Premier. Her hold on power has been shaken after revelations at an anti corruption inquiry that she had a secret close personal… Read More