The robo-debt scandal in Australia might bring about criminal prosecutions for abuse of public office, recommendations from the national corruption watchdog, and disciplinary measures by professional entities, according to legal specialists. The robo-debt royal commission, chaired by former Queensland chief justice Catherine Holmes, SC, uncovered severe misconduct by past Coalition ministers and bureaucrats in a… Read More
Corruption watchdog referrals skyrocket since launch
Australia’s federal anti-corruption watchdog has witnessed a significant increase in its referrals, garnering over 300 since its recent debut. As of Monday, National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton noted that 44 of these came via their online system, a number which quickly rose to 186 online submissions and 116 phone calls by Wednesday. A significant portion,… Read More
Corruption watchdog referrals skyrocket since launch
Since its recent launch, the federal anti-corruption watchdog has received over 300 referrals. National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton revealed that 44 of these were obtained via their online system, with the current figures standing at 186 online submissions and 116 phone referrals. Notably, around 60 pertained to issues already highlighted in the media. The Centre… Read More
Stuart Robert should face anti-corruption watchdog, experts say
Integrity experts and former judges propose that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Australia’s new federal integrity watchdog, should investigate the actions of former cabinet minister Stuart Robert. Read More
Big four consultancies win $1.4 billion a year in taxpayer-funded contracts
The ‘big four’ consulting firms, including PwC, have expanded their federal business in Australia by 400% over the last decade, coinciding with consistent donations to the major political parties. Read More
Doubts over whether federal anti-corruption body could investigate PwC scandal
Legal experts are uncertain whether Australia’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), due to launch in July, will be able to investigate the ongoing scandal at consulting firm PwC Read More
Corruption experts condemn Andrews over IBAC report
Anthony Whealy, former judge and chairman of the Centre, criticised the state’s anti-corruption legislation for only identifying criminal conduct and failing to account for “grey” corruption. Read More
Daniel Andrews’ dismissal of IBAC ‘awful, offensive’, says former judge
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been heavily criticised by Stephen Charles KC, retired Court of Appeal judge and board member of the Centre for Public Integrity, Australia’s leading anti-corruption think tank, for his response to findings of misconduct in his government. Andrews dismissed the findings, which revealed improper influence and misconduct in the awarding of… Read More
‘Beyond the realms of acceptable spin’: Integrity experts slam Andrews for downplaying IBAC report
Integrity experts have criticised Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for misrepresenting the findings of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). Read More
Premier Daniel Andrews under pressure to act on ‘grey corruption’ after IBAC report
Australia’s leading anti-corruption think tank, the Centre for Public Integrity, has joined the call for quick action following a report on “grey corruption” in Victorian politics. Read More
Former Ibac head could face integrity committee after making allegations against Victorian MPs
Robert Redlich, former head of Victoria’s (IBAC), may be required to provide evidence before a revamped integrity and oversight committee Read More
Late-night deal that doomed Redlich letter inquiry backed by integrity experts
The Andrews government has struck a deal to relinquish control of parliament’s integrity and oversight committee, leading to support from integrity experts, Read More
Pork-barrelling should be banned under ministerial code: ex-ICAC boss
Summary: Call for Pork-Barrelling Ban in Federal Ministerial Code of Conduct Peter Hall, former chief of the NSW corruption watchdog, advocates for a ban on pork-barrelling in the federal Ministerial Code of Conduct, arguing that it can equate to criminal conduct when public funds are allocated for party-political gain. This push is part of the… Read More
Corruption watchdog a start, now give it teeth
While the upcoming National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in Australia is a significant stride towards accountability, it alone cannot eliminate corruption, warns Prof George Williams, a board member of the Centre for Public Integrity Read More
MEDIA Release – Independent oversight key to effective National Anti-Corruption Commission
Independent oversight key to effective National Anti-Corruption Commission Read More
Media release – Joint statement on the National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022
As the NACC Bill returns to Parliament today, the country’s leading integrity organisations and experts are making a united call for the elimination of the ‘exceptional circumstances’ threshold for public hearings. The Centre for Public Integrity, Transparency International Australia, the Human Rights Law Centre, the Accountability Roundtable, the Ethics Centre, the Governance Institute and the… Read More
Media release – Public hearings lead to corruption findings
All public hearings by NSW ICAC in the last 10 years have made findings of corrupt conduct or wrongdoing, according to new research by the Centre for Public Integrity. Analysis of annual reports and investigation reports by NSW ICAC show that the claims of reputational damage are overstated, and that public hearingsexpose corruption. The analysis… Read More
Media Release – Corruption experts welcome corruption commission
Press conference 1.30pm at the Mural Hall with Stephen Charles AO KC, Michael Barker KC and Geoffrey Watson SC. The Centre for Public Integrity today welcomed the tabling of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill (2022). The experts’ analysis of the bill found that it contains strong investigative powers and a broad jurisdiction, and is able… Read More
Media Release – Public hearings crucial to investigating corruption
“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 bite – ‘Any person’ could be probed by new corruption watchdog: Dreyfus
The Centre for Public Integrity’s chair, Anthony Whealy, has welcomed the government’s move to give the federal corruption watchdog the power to investigate anyone trying to induce public officials to engage in dishonest conduct, widening its scope to capture “third parties” in an effort to improve integrity in government. However, experts say the commission should… Read More
Crossbench concerns over narrow scope of national anti-corruption body
Days out from the likely release of the federal government’s anti-corruption bill, some key crossbenchers are raising concerns it might not be given the level of power they are looking for. Federal parliament will resume next week after a fortnight’s delay due to the death of the Queen, and the government will use the sitting… Read More
‘Unresolved’: Crossbenchers declare sticking points with Labor’s corruption watchdog
Crossbench MPs have declared there are still major sticking points with the federal government’s proposal for a national corruption watchdog as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tries to avoid breaking a key election promise to legislate the body by the end of the year. The crossbench MPs are worried Labor’s integrity commission will not be broad… Read More
Albanese pushed to pass ‘urgent’ integrity reforms after Queen’s death delays
Independent MPs are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to honour his election pledge to pass laws this year to create a national integrity commission amid growing fears he will miss the deadline and deliver a weaker watchdog than they want. Concern at the delay has spread among crossbench MPs after the government suspended Parliament to… Read More
IBAC committee brawls amid claims of ‘interference’ from Andrews’ office
The group of state MPs who oversee Victoria’s corruption watchdog have turned on each other amid claims Premier Daniel Andrews’ office directed a politically charged statement that took a swipe at the agency. Veteran Liberal MP and former treasurer Kim Wells has accused Andrews’ office of “direct political interference” into the Integrity and Oversight Committee,… Read More
Law Society of SA calls for ICAC review over concerns rushed legislation fails the pub test
South Australian lawyers say “hurried” anti-corruption laws allow public officials convicted of certain crimes to charge taxpayers for their legal fees, and parliament’s handling of the laws “fails the pub test”. Last week, an ABC exclusive report outlined the implications of a little-understood change to the state’s Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) Act. The legislation… Read More
Victorian government under pressure from Greens, opposition to speed up integrity reforms
The Victorian government is under pressure to speed up promised integrity reforms, following a scathing report detailing “extensive” misconduct by its MPs. The Operation Watts investigation — a joint probe between the state’s ombudsman and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) — uncovered rampant nepotism and the widespread misuse of public resources within the Victorian… Read More
A life dedicated to the law and justice, without fear or favour
This interview with our committee member Nicholas Cowdrey AO QC by Peter Fitzsimmons was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 3 2022. Nicholas Richard Cowdery AO, QC, is the longest-serving director of public prosecutions in Australian history, having served in the role for NSW from 1994-2011. I talked to him on Friday morning.… Read More
Voters care about integrity – the Andrews government should pay heed
The message could not have been clearer at the last federal election. Voters do not see integrity, transparency and the misuse of public funds for political purposes as esoteric topics for think tank discussion groups, but fundamental issues that go to the heart of good government.
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Siblings’ planning ties highlight flaws in lobbying laws
Lobbying is an undeniable reality of government decision-making in Australia, and the OECD has recognised that it can make a valuable contribution to the democratic process. It also cautions, however, that lobbying can lead to “undue influence, unfair competition and regulatory capture to the detriment of the public”.
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Media release – Sharpening the watchdogs teeth
urrently, however, the ability of the IBAC to fulfil its mandated functions is hampered by undue limitations on both its jurisdiction and the use of its investigative powers. I Read More
31 former judges call for the establishment of a National Integrity Commission
Media release embargo 6am 18th May 2022 31 former judges have signed an open letter calling on political leaders to establish a National Integrity Commission. Signatories include former judge of the High Court Mary Gaudron QC, former Chief Justice of Queensland Catherine Holmes AC QC, and former Federal Court judge Michael Barker QC. The letter states: “Despite… Read More
Scott Morrison’s anti-ICAC argument ignores vast sums of federal spending – and risk of corruption
Centre for Public Integrity research director Dr Catherine Williams says she has seen no evidence to suggest that corruption differs between a state and federal level. Read More
Labor integrity commission to investigate allegations from a ‘long time ago’
Labor expects its proposed national integrity commission will examine alleged misconduct from as far back as 15 years, with both former and current politicians eligible to be investigated under a broad definition of corruption. Unlike the Coalition, Labor has promised to create an integrity body with retrospective powers, meaning it could examine decisions taken before… Read More
Ibac frenzy exposes a wide divide between Victorian and federal Liberals
More public hearings would undeniably stop speculation from running wild. How that balance can be achieved is a matter that Liberals must grapple with at both the state and federal levels. Read More
ICAC commissioner slams kangaroo court claims as ‘deeply offensive’
“To those buffoons who have repeatedly described this commission as a kangaroo court, I would say three things. First, it is deeply offensive to the hardworking staff of the commission. It undermines the institution,” Rushton said. Read More
‘Scary’: Federal integrity body becomes an issue in battle for Brisbane
Queensland Liberal MP Trevor Evans has warned the crowd at a candidates’ forum in his marginal inner-Brisbane seat about the “scary” outcomes experienced by some of those investigated by state anti-corruption bodies. And despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s refusal to commit to setting up such an agency if the Coalition is returned to government after… Read More
When will there be a federal ICAC or anti-corruption commission? What are the parties promising?
Barnaby Joyce does not think many Australians will actually care that a national anti-corruption watchdog is still a pipedream when they cast their vote. The Deputy Prime Minister’s latest comments on why the Coalition has walked away from its 2019 election pledge to establish a Commonwealth integrity commission show the political calculation made in the… Read More
‘Public hearings expose corruption’: legal experts back federal ICAC as Scott Morrison ditches promise
Integrity experts have backed a public model of a federal corruption watchdog as the prime minister ditches his promise to establish one. Scott Morrison said a federal watchdog hosting public hearings would become a “kangaroo court” that would tarnish people’s reputations. But top silks say a federal model would be ineffective without public examinations with… Read More
‘Massive policy failure’: retired judges blast Morrison’s broken promise on federal Icac
Retired judges have criticised the Morrison government’s broken promise on the federal anti-corruption commission as a “massive policy failure”, saying the Coalition’s explanation for walking away from the pledge was “spurious”. The Coalition is under pressure over its failure to introduce legislation establishing its proposed anti-corruption commission, despite promising to do so prior to the… Read More
Morrison walks from federal integrity commission, blames Labor
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has abandoned his 2019 election promise to establish a federal integrity commission, blaming Labor for not supporting the government’s model, as Opposition leader Anthony Albanese accused him of wanting to shield his ministers from corruption probes. Morrison sought to pin the blame on the Opposition for the failed commitment, saying his… Read More
MPs contradict Morrison on federal ICAC
Written by Finbarr O’Mallon on April 15 2022. Originally published in the Northern Beaches Review. Government frontbenchers have tried to walk back the prime minister’s lack of commitment to establishing a federal corruption watchdog if he wins next month’s election. Scott Morrison this week backflipped on a 2019 election promise to establish a federal anti-corruption… Read More
Labor: Corruption watchdog ‘overdue’
Written by Tess Ikonomou. Originally published in the Northern Beaches Review on APRIL 14 2022 A vote for Labor will be a vote for a “long overdue” national anti-corruption watchdog, the party’s election campaign spokesman says. Jason Clare criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday afternoon over his refusal to commit to establishing a commission.… Read More
Anthony Whealy on ABC
Listen to Centre Chair speaking with Linda Mottram on ABC radio discussing the Prime Minister’s broken promise to establish a National Integrity Commission. This interview was conducted on Thursday April 14 2022.
Albanese challenges PM on federal corruption watchdog amid $55b grant concerns
Written by Finbar O’Mallon and originally published on 7news.com.au on 19 April 2022 Scott Morrison says he’ll only introduce his highly criticised model for a federal anti-corruption body if Labor promises to let it through unchanged. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has promised to legislate a federal anti-corruption commission by the end of the year if… Read More
Pork barrel politics isn’t just about integrity; it is corrupt
Written by Anthony Whealy. The current chair of the Centre for Public Integrity he is a former NSW Supreme Court judge and a former assistant commissioner of the ICAC. This article was originally published in the Australian Financial Review on May 2, 2022. It is a concern when a major newspaper, in this case, The… Read More
New research: Public hearings expose corruption
Read the briefing paper here
Federal budget cuts to integrity bodies spark calls for independent funding
Written by Christopher Knauss. Originally published in the Guardian on March 31 2022 Key integrity bodies suffered direct cuts to their funding in the federal budget, while others continue to be starved of the resources they need to hold the government accountable, analysis reveals. Tuesday night’s budget reduced funding for the commonwealth ombudsman, the administrative… Read More
Scott Morrison’s mystery $13.8 billion campaign war chest
A campaign war chest worth $13.8 billion will help fund a seat-by-seat battle for power at the election after the federal government set up dozens of funds in Tuesday’s budget to woo voters with promises that range from big energy projects to local community schemes. The election strategy pours taxpayer funds into programs that do… Read More
Politics Federal election no time for federal ICAC: Cash
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash says class action reforms and a federal integrity commission will have to wait until after the election as the government pursues laws on religious freedom and online trolls in the final days of parliament. Senator Cash said the first priority of the Prime Minister was to ensure passage of the Religious Discrimination… Read More
Stephen Charles: The case for a national integrity commission
Last Saturday, in these pages, the independent candidate for Curtin, Kate Chaney, said that the government’s whole purpose now was to “get in power and stay in power”. This is accurate, although the reality is much worse because of the means the government is prepared to use to do so. We know that before the… Read More