The Centre for Public Integrity conducts research into protecting the integrity of accountability institutions.

Accountability institutions are crucial to holding government to account and building confidence in our system of government. Attacks on these institutions have led to a compromised system of integrity. Secure and sufficient funding, permanent tenure of senior officials, and independent non-partisan appointments are among the reforms necessary to restoring confidence in our system.

You can read some of our latest research on accountability institutions below:

 

 

How much is too much?

August 13, 2023

Since 2012/13, Australian taxpayers have paid a total of 43.28% more than what was initially agreed to for reported Commonwealth procurements.

Opaque big four contracts increase 1276%

July 17, 2023

The increased outsourcing of policy work to private contractors who are not directly accountable, financially back both parties and may present conflict of interest challenges raises questions of integrity and public value-for-money.

Submission: Review of aspects of the Electoral Act 2002 (Vic)

July 14, 2023

We consider that the exclusion from the donations disclosure and cap regime of affiliation fees, subscription fees, fundraising attendance fees and payments from a nominated entity to its party operate to substantially benefit the major parties. This is inequitable and should be remedied.

Delay and decay: Australia’s Freedom of Information crisis   

June 10, 2023

Australia’s FOI regime continues to be undermined. Statutory standards are routinely disobeyed, statutory exceptions are abused and the system is plagued by chronic under-resourcing. Our analysis has found that:

Shrouded in Secrecy

April 24, 2023

Establishing an Independent Transparency Monitor to promote access to information provides a disincentive to secrecy (and therefore enhances transparency)

Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2023 (Cth)

March 6, 2023

Ending Jobs for Mates needs to be a priority for this Government. For too long appointments to highly paid and powerful positions have relied upon who someone knows rather than suitability for the role.

Whistleblower protection: Centre for Public Integrity Submission

December 22, 2022

Our submission is concerned solely with one priority reform not addressed by the Bill in its current form: the need for an independent whistleblower protection authority. As our submission sets out, this is a vital reform that, in our view, should be part of any Bill seeking to deliver priority reforms to the PID Act.

Achieving Integrity in Victoria

November 10, 2022

The Centre for Public Integrity has determined a FIVE step roadmap to improve integrity in Victoria.

A Farewell to Arms Part 2: Designing an effective Commonwealth expenditure cap regime

October 22, 2022

There are no limits on candidate, party, or third-party expenditure for Commonwealth elections. Expenditure caps make elections more fair, competitive, and open; they also direct our elected representatives’ focus to their constituencies and portfolios rather than to raise funds from donors with ulterior motives. Caps on third-party electoral expenditure, when designed appropriately, are an important way of preventing the undue and inordinate influence of monied interests on discourse and, ultimately, on public policy.

Delay and Decay: Australia’s Freedom of Information Crisis

September 8, 2022

Australia’s FOI regime continues to be undermined in practice by inordinate delay, under resourcing and the
abuse of statutory exceptions. In light of these problems, the Centre for Public Integrity
recommends:

Members of the Accountability Institutions research committee are:

 

  • The Hon Paul Stein AM QC, former judge of NSW Court Appeal
  • Bret Walker SC, barrister, former Independent National Security Legislation Monitor
  • Geoffrey Watson SC, barrister, former counsel assisting NSW ICAC and Police Integrity Commissioner
  • Richard Beasley SC, barrister
  • Quentin Dempster, journalist