“Exceptional circumstances” is too high a threshold for the new National Anti-corruption Commission to begin public hearings and will lead to corruption being hidden behind closed doors, Read More
Media release: FOI delays double in 10 years
FOI delays outside the statutory 30-day period have doubled in the past 10 years, according to new research by the Centre for Public Integrity. As well as systemic delays, the research finds that FOI refusals have increased 50%, while requests granted in full have fallen 30%. The research finds: Bret Walker SC, one of the… Read More
A quarter of all donations from just 10 donors
Media release 1st February 2022 The most recent AEC donations disclosures confirm the need for urgent reform of our political finance system. The data shows that big donors are dominating the funding of our political parties, with almost a quarter of all donations coming from just 10 donors. Total donations 2020-21 $17,904,618 Top 10 donors… Read More
Who pays the piper? Political parties funded by associated entities and millionaires
Media release 31st January 2022 New research by the Centre for Public Integrity finds that the funding of our political parties is dominated by opaque associated entities and large donations over $1 million. Analysis of donations declared to the AEC over 22 years from 1998/1999-2019/2020 shows that: The Australian Labor Party was the largest fundraiser,… Read More
Webinar: Democracy and the Climate Crisis
Renewing Democracy to Tackle the Climate Crisis Thursday 4th November 12pm on Zoom Webinars. What are the challenges facing democracy in the climate crisis and how can we solve them? How is policy capture by the polluting industries contributing to inaction on climate change? Join law and democracy expert Professor Joo Cheong Tham and Independent… Read More
Upcoming webinar with whistleblower Bernard Collaery
Thursday 14th October 1pm. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IvtNEMtJRuiE0FEstREznQ Bernard Collaery is an eminent Canberra lawyer and is a former ACT Government Attorney-General. He was charged in 2018, along with ‘Witness K’, in relation to the Australian government’s bugging of the Timor-Leste government offices in 2004, during negotiations over the Timor Sea oil and gas resources. Between… Read More
Commonwealth Procurement Rules unenforced and ineffective – new analysis
Media release 29 April 2021. Land procurement at Western Sydney Airport is exempt from oversight under the procurement rules, according to a new submission to the inquiry. Analysis from the Centre for Public Integrity has found that enforcement and accountability of CPRs is largely ineffective. Although the Act provides for judicial review of alleged contraventions… Read More