Daniel Andrews’ dismissal of IBAC ‘awful, offensive’, says former judge

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been heavily criticised by Stephen Charles KC, retired Court of Appeal judge and board member of the Centre for Public Integrity, Australia’s leading anti-corruption think tank, for his response to findings of misconduct in his government. Andrews dismissed the findings, which revealed improper influence and misconduct in the awarding of… 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

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.
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Voters care about integrity – the Andrews government should pay heed

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.
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The minister and the lobbyist: Blandthorn siblings face conflict questions

Premier Daniel Andrews’ appointment of new Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn has raised conflict-of-interest questions due to her lobbyist brother representing major development, construction and infrastructure clients. In an appointment that has unsettled some senior government and Labor insiders, the premier named Pascoe Vale MP Blandthorn to the sensitive planning role. Her brother, John-Paul Blandthorn, heads… Read More

ABC: Lawyer X prosecutions doubtful due to lack of resources for ‘mammoth task’, Victorian anti-corruption body IBAC says

Originally published on the 18th of September by Sarah Farnsworth at the ABC Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog has expressed serious doubt about whether any criminal charges will flow from the Lawyer X scandal. The royal commission into the scandal is considering whether individual police officers have committed criminal offences by using gangland barrister Nicola Gobbo against… Read More