By Ross Stitt, 17th January 2020. The decline of integrity in Australian politics is a long and dispiriting tale. The latest chapter has been written by Senator Bridget McKenzie, and what a sorry chapter it is. In her previous incarnation as Minister for Sport Senator McKenzie ‘oversaw’ the distribution of $100m of taxpayers’ money under… Read More
Ex-DPP blasts sports grants as 'pork barrelling of the worst kind'
By Katie Burgess, originally published in Canberra Times 17th January 2020. Nationals leader Michael McCormack is standing by his deputy Bridget McKenzie, as a former director of public prosecutions says her misuse of sports grants highlights the need for a federal integrity commission. Senator McKenzie flatly rejected calls to resign on Thursday, after a damning… Read More
PM's phone call to police chief an inappropriate attempt to use position, former top judge says
By Chris Knaus, originally published in The Guardian 28th November 2019. Former anti-corruption commissioner and senior judge David Ipp says Scott Morrison’s phone call to the New South Wales police chief appears to be an inappropriate attempt to use his position to make a political decision. Morrison came under fire on Wednesday for calling NSW… Read More
Scott Morrison under fire over phone call to police commissioner
By David Crowe, originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald 27th November 2019. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been accused of interfering in a police investigation into Energy Minister Angus Taylor amid a political storm over his judgement in telephoning the NSW police commissioner about the matter. Mr Morrison insisted he had done nothing wrong… Read More
Invisible donors: Big political spenders just the tip of the iceberg
By Katie Burgess, originally published in The Canberra Times 5th November 2019. Billionaires bankrolled high-profile independents including Canberra’s Anthony Pesec ahead of the May federal election, new electoral disclosures show. But most donors remain invisible, because of the high disclosure threshold. Independents received around $4.7 million in donations from more than 5500 donors, election disclosure… Read More
MR: “Accountability institutions are under attack” – former integrity officials call for greater independence, funding and powers
Media release 29th October 2019 Former integrity officials today launched 10 reform principles to strengthen accountability institutions, in the wake of ongoing attacks on the judiciary, the media, corruption commissions, and other important agencies. Former judge Paul Stein AM QC, former Independent Security Legislation Monitor Bret Walker SC, former ABC journalist Quentin Dempster AM, and… Read More
RN Breakfast: Queensland crackdown on election donations
Interview by Hamish McDonald, producer Cathy Van Extel, ABC RN Breakfast 30th October 2019. Queensland is set to implement the toughest electoral donation caps and spending limits in the country. Next month the Palaszczuk Government will introduce a bill into State Parliament, with spending caps to take effect in time for next year’s state election.… Read More
Public servants should be punished for failing to report misconduct, legal experts say
By Chris Knaus, originally published in the Guardian 30th October 2019. Public servants should be legally compelled to report misconduct and face punishment for failing to do so, a group of former judges and integrity experts say. The recommendation is one of a series of urgent reforms needed to improve government integrity, strengthen accountability bodies… Read More
Corruption experts welcome Queensland donations reform
Media release 29th October 2019 Leading corruption experts and former judges today welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of electoral reform. Reforms include caps on electoral expenditure and donations, and increasing public funding, which aligns with The Centre for Public Integrity’s 15 Point Plan to eliminate the undue influence of money in politics. “The Centre for… Read More
‘It is all part of the same disease’: media and other key institutions under threat
By Nick O’Malley, originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 29th October 2019. The prosecution of journalists, cuts to the ABC budget and the appointment of “dud” politically connected officials to roles in key agencies present an unprecedented threat to democracy in Australia. “Media provides crucial accountability and transparency functions,” said a report by… Read More