Summary:
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. The report, by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), detailed how political advisers to Premier Daniel Andrews and two former health ministers pressured public servants into awarding a $1.2 million contract without a tender process. IBAC defined “grey corruption” as bending or breaking rules to unfairly favor allies, friends, and networks of decision-makers. The Centre’s board member, retired Supreme Court judge Stephen Charles, criticized the current legislation for limiting corruption to acts involving criminal conduct. He advocated for a broader definition in line with Transparency International, which views corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”. The report is calling for higher standards of conduct and increased transparency to prevent further corruption and ensure integrity within the government.
This summary is based on an article from ABC, written by Joseph Dunstan, and can be found here.