Opinion piece by Stephen Charles, originally published in the Guardian 19th June 2020. The government’s proposed commonwealth integrity commission will be ‘the weakest and most ineffective such body in this country’ This week’s allegations of systemic branch-stacking and misuse of public money again show the urgent need for stronger anti-corruption measures – not only in… Read More
Election funding furore over ‘backdoor’ donations
By David Crowe, originally published in SMH on 17 June 2020. A crossbench coalition will try to stop a looming change to electoral law out of concern it could blur the lines between state and federal donations and skirt new controls on who can bankroll the major political parties. The move aims to force a… Read More
Somyurek quits Labor after being sacked as Victorian Minister amidst corruption allegations
Interview with Stephen Charles AO QC on ABC PM by Rhett Burnie on 15 June 2020. The Labor Party is in turmoil over claims of corruption in the party’s Victorian right faction. Premier Daniel Andrews moved quickly this morning to sack Adem Somyurek from the ministry and he’s also now out of the Labor party… Read More
Media release: Somyurek scandals shows need for a National Integrity Commission and a stronger IBAC
The Centre for Public Integrity is today calling for stronger corruption investigation capacity in Victoria and federally, in response to the revelations involving branch stacking by former Victorian Minister Adem Somyurek. “The revelations involving Adem Somyurek highlight the need for stronger corruption investigation capacity at a state and federal level,” said Geoffrey Watson SC. “Victoria’s… Read More
‘Who’s going to protect Albo’: Tapes show how powerbroker controls ALP
By Nick McKenzie, Joel Tozer, and Sumeyya Ilanbey, originally published in the Age 15 June 2020. A Victorian Labor Party powerbroker has threatened to end the careers of several federal MPs, while also claiming to be “protecting” Anthony Byrne, deputy chair of the Australian Parliament’s powerful intelligence committee. Secret footage shows MP Adem Somyurek handing… Read More
Cabinet ministers charge taxpayers for trip involving Liberal party fundraiser
By Christopher Knaus, originally published in the Guardian 15 June 2020. Three cabinet ministers charged taxpayers more than $4,500 for an overnight trip to Sydney during which they mingled with mining and banking donors at a lucrative Liberal party fundraiser hosted by Channel Nine. Stuart Robert, Dan Tehan and Simon Birmingham flew into Sydney on… Read More
Opinion: Australia must take the heat out of the political fundraising arms race
By Han Aulby, originally published in the Guardian 15 June 2020. Public trust in government is low. Regular allegations of MPs misspending public money do little to aid this. Reforms are needed to strengthen political culture and rebuild public trust. There are ongoing allegations of misspending of public money, whether in relation to the $1bn… Read More
National Covid-19 Coordination Commission scrutinised
By Mike Seccombe, originally published in the Saturday Paper 16th May 2020. Neville Power, the mining company executive hand-picked by the prime minister to lead the body planning Australia’s recovery in the post-Covid-19 world, was a no-show on Wednesday. And that was a great pity, for the senate select committee established to inquire into the… Read More
Joint statement on Covid Coordination Commission
Today, a former NSW Court of Appeal judge Anthony Whealy QC, and law and integrity groups, are calling on the Prime Minister to establish greater transparency and integrity measures for the opaque and unaccountable National Covid Coordination Commission (NCCC) and its Manufacturing Working Group, ahead of the Commission’s appearance at Covid Select Senate Committee hearings.… Read More
Zali Steggall increasingly concerned about Morrison government’s Covid Commission
By Katharine Murphy, originally published in the Guardian 13 May 2020. The independent MP Zali Steggall says she is increasingly concerned about the Morrison government’s influential National Covid Coordination Commission, because there is “no transparency about its governance or processes”. With representatives of the commission to appear before a Senate inquiry to answer questions about… Read More