The report casts important light on a growing threat to Australian parliamentary democracy: the exercise of public power by unaccountable ministerial advisors.
We talk a lot about corrupt behaviour in politics and holding wrong-doers to account. But there’s another problem: the need for politicians to have better values and standards in the first place.
There are three main differences between IBAC and ICAC, the Victorian and NSW bodies set up to combat government corruption.
A Victorian parliamentary committee has recommended that all serious police misconduct be investigated by a new independent police misconduct and corruption division within the IBAC.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
A complaints system in which police investigate themselves is hardly likely to instil confidence in communities where police are regarded as the problem rather than the solution.
Australia’s VET system has been in an uphill battle with reforms that have led to lower-quality training and misappropriation of resources.
Joe Castro/AAP
VET certification standards differ greatly from university. Students qualify for diplomas with no set course length, assignments, or campus contact.
Daniel Andrews and his ministers swear an oath to comply with the law, which includes the obligations of public office as a public trust.
AAP/Julian Smith
There cannot be a more important office or more challenging role than being a member of parliament. This is especially so for government MPs and ministers, including the newly elected Victorian ministry…
Under Ted Baillieu, the Coalition government set up an anti-corruption commission, but not the one promised in 2010.
AAP/Julian Smith
Before the 2010 election, the opposition – now the government – promised Victorians an anti-corruption commission. This was to be closely modelled on the New South Wales Independent Commission Against…
What are we voting for? Certainly not decisions made in MPs’ own interest or that of political parties or business cronies, but the present system lets that happen.
AAP/Andrew Brownbill
The Accountability Round Table (ART), a non-partisan organisation, wrote to the three major political parties two months ago seeking their position on three important arms of Victoria’s integrity system…
“Who do you trust?” has become a common mantra in Australian politics. Our political leaders should do much more to stop the answer being “no one”.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
A fundamental lack of trust is at the heart of Australian politicians’ extremely poor reputation. It is the main reason why people’s opinions about their elected representatives have mutated from healthy…
Attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie and premier Campbell Newman are defying the lessons from other states and from Queensland’s own history of corruption.
AAP/Dave Hunt
The old joke was that visitors to Queensland should turn their clock back one hour and their calendar back 30 years. There are indications state premier Campbell Newman wants to take Queensland back to…
Victorian premier Denis Napthine may need to expedite reform to the state’s anti-corruption practices if a recent ombudsman’s report is any guide.
AAP/Joe Castro
To steal a line, there’s something rotten in the state of Victoria. It has a serious problem with corruption, and may find itself ill-equipped to fight it. This might come as a surprise to Victorians…