Summary: For the first time, Victorian ministers have made their meeting diaries public, showcasing interactions with various individuals and organizations, from media magnates and union leaders to a Hollywood celebrity. This move towards transparency was initiated by Premier Jacinta Allan, allowing insights into the engagements of officials like Treasurer Tim Pallas with entities ranging from… Read More
Albanese compliance with senate production orders roughly half that of Morrison
Compliance with senate production orders has seen a downturn in the current parliament, reveals a study by the Centre for Public Integrity, Australia’s foremost anti-corruption think tank. The research indicates that the Albanese government has a compliance rate of only 20.4%, in stark contrast to the Morrison government’s 48.7% over a three-year span from 2019-2022.… Read More
Lobbyists rail against ‘unfair’ federal reforms
Summary: The Australian Professional Government Relations Association (APGRA), which represents lobbyists, has rejected calls from the Centre for Public Integrity, Australia’s leading anti-corruption think tank, to legislate the federal lobbyists’ code. The Centre’s report, “Closing the revolving door,” advocates for stronger regulations to curb corruption, improve transparency, and enhance integrity in Australia’s lobbying industry. Key… Read More
Scott Morrison’s reported links to UK defence job shows lobbying reforms needed, integrity experts say
Summary: Scott Morrison’s reported discussions for a UK defence industry role have brought Australia’s pressing need for lobbying reforms into sharp focus. As integrity experts and organizations like the Centre for Public Integrity have stressed, such transitions raise concerns about potential corruption and the abuse of insider knowledge gained while in government. Existing codes require… Read More
Corporations exploiting ‘weak integrity laws’ to influence government: Report
The Centre for Public Integrity, an independent Australian think tank, is calling for stronger regulations to counter the swift transition of ex-politicians and advisers into lobbying roles that potentially exploit personal connections and policy knowledge Read More
Release of government documents to the public is declining under the Albanese government
Under the Albanese administration, compliance has fallen to a mere 20.4%, compared to the 92% rate recorded in 1993-96, and 48.7% Read More
Albanese ’worse than Morrison’ on secrecy, says integrity body
The Albanese government has been marked as more secretive than its predecessor, the Morrison government, by frequently using “public interest immunity” claims to keep documents confidential, 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
Teals set to fight Canberra’s ‘jobs for mates’ culture
The private member’s bill aims to ensure more transparency and integrity in the selection process for roles in key government bodies such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission and AEC Read More
MP pushes for new laws to end ‘jobs for mates’ culture
Summary Independent MP Sophie Scamps is advocating for a more transparent and impartial process for major government-appointed jobs in Australia. In her first private member’s bill, she plans to propose the establishment of a public appointments commissioner to mediate an independent recruitment process, preventing governments from gifting lucrative positions to political allies. This proposal, drafted… Read More