What do electoral laws, social media, climate change and secure work have in common? All have been prioritised for reform by the Labor government – and all are areas where democratic reform is essential. In fact, the links between these four priorities provide a unique opportunity for change. Disinformation and manipulationThe age-old problem of political… Read More
The real question: will federal integrity body probe Labor?
The Albanese government heads into its first parliamentary session next week promising to deliver its election promises. This is laudable. The devil will be in the detail. And devil is the right word when it comes to the details of the promised integrity commission. There is a blindingly obvious rot at the centre of the… Read More
Bernard Collaery: The spy case that ignited an Australian secrecy row
For a decade, Bernard Collaery has been at the centre of an extraordinary legal saga in Australia. It involves one of the country’s biggest diplomatic scandals – a tale of spies, oil and accusations of greed. An esteemed lawyer, Mr Collaery had been staring down a possible jail sentence for helping to expose allegations of… Read More
Calls for probe into Tasmanian political grants, amid revelation club where Liberal family member is treasurer wins $50k
An integrity expert has called for an independent inquiry into the Tasmanian Liberal Party’s use of a controversial grants fund during the 2021 election campaign, arguing millions of dollars of taxpayer money may have been misappropriated. The Liberals established the Local Communities Facilities Fund as an election promise, and a “Liberal Party Policy team” internally… Read More
Labor to introduce real-time disclosures and slash donations thresholds
Politicians would have to declare political donations over $1000 in real time as part of a sweeping package of integrity measures Special Minister of State Don Farrell hopes to introduce by mid-2023. Labor also wants to introduce “truth in political advertising” laws and potentially double the number of senators allocated to the Northern Territory and… Read More
Stronger safeguards around lobbying are a must
In any democracy, lobbying is a vital component of the political process, ensuring that varied interest groups can make their case on specific issues to elected officials. It is a source of reforms to policy, from neighbourhood planning to our response to global issues such as climate change. But in all democracies there is the… Read More
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus orders Commonwealth to drop charges against lawyer Bernard Collaery
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has ordered the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution of lawyer Bernard Collaery, four years after he was charged with conspiring to release classified information about an alleged spying operation in East Timor. Mr Collaery was charged in 2018 for allegedly helping his client, an ex-spy known only as Witness K, to reveal… Read More
Albanese bans blind trusts and shares for ministers, keeps ‘bonk ban’
Federal government ministers have been told to sell off shareholdings and divest from blind trust arrangements under a tough new code of conduct implemented by Anthony Albanese. Maintaining a ban on sex between ministers and their staff, the Prime Minister said frontbenchers would be held personally responsible for managing their private financial affairs and could… 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 Age Editorial published on June 30 2022. 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. These… Read More