The Case for a Federal ICAC

Trust in government has never been so low. This crisis in public confidence is driven by the widespread perception that politics is corrupt and politicians and government have failed to be accountable. The sports rorts and the travel expenses rorts are just two major scandals that have again led to calls for a federal independent integrity commission.

It is not just the big scandals that eat away at our trust and faith in politicians and the system. It is the near daily stories of appalling behaviour – be it broken promises, grants that don’t comply with the rules, the cavalier and unaccountable spending of taxpayers’ money, the ex-politicians who take up jobs in apparent defiance of the rules, the conflicts of interest, the outright porkies and the jobs for the boys – that constantly chip away at our trust in politicians.

Below are a number of stories highlighting political misconduct over the past several years. Few have been investigated, even fewer properly investigated. None have been prosecuted. QED –  Quod Erat Demonstrandum –  “so it has been demonstrated”. This compilation of allegations is, in itself, hard proof that Australia needs a federal corruption commission to hold government to account!

This page will be calling out all behaviour that fails the pub test because all these examples of poor conduct in public life paint a powerful picture of the apparent contempt in which many politicians hold their employers, the Australian public, the very people who pay their salaries.

We’ll keep adding to the list. If you have something, to add, please get in touch.

QED

The Case for a Federal ICAC

Trust in government has never been so low. This crisis in public confidence is driven by the widespread perception that politics is corrupt and politicians and government have failed to be accountable. The sports rorts and the travel expenses rorts are just two major scandals that have again led to calls for a federal independent integrity commission.

Below are a number of stories highlighting political misconduct over the past several years. Few have been investigated, even fewer properly investigated. None have been prosecuted. QED –  Quad Erat Demonstrandum, –  “so it has been demonstrated”. This compilation of allegations is, in itself, hard proof that Australia needs a federal corruption commission to hold government to account!

This page will also be calling out all behaviour that fails the pub test.  Whether it’s giving grants that don’t comply with the rules, the cavalier and unaccountable spending of taxpayers’ money, jobs for the boys, or telling outright porkies, to name just a few examples, this conduct paints a powerful picture of the apparent contempt in which many politicians hold their employers, the Australian public.

We’ll keep adding to the list. If you have something, to add, please get in touch.

Conflicts of Interest

Redirecting funding to pet hobbies; offering jobs to the boys without a proper tender process; secretly bankrolling candidates in elections; taking up private sector jobs in apparent breach of parliament’s code of ethics, the list goes on.

Deceptive Conduct

Claiming that greenhouse gas emissions have gone down when the facts clearly show otherwise; breaking the law on responding to FoI requests; reneging on promised legislation; claiming credit for legislation that doesn’t exist; accepting donations that breach rules. You get the drift of what behaviour this category captures.

Election Rorts

In the months before the last election, the Government spent hundreds of millions of dollars of Australian taxpayers’ money on grants for sports, community safety, rural development programs and more. Many of these grants were disproportionally awarded to marginal seats, with limited oversight and even less accountability.

Dubious Travel Claims

Ministerial business that just happens to coincide with a grand final or a concert; electorate business that must be conducted in prime tourist locations, or at the same time as party fundraisers. All above board, maybe, but does it really pass the pub test? Or does it just reinforce the fact that politicians take the public for mugs?
This website is dedicated to the public interest. Our focus is investigations into big business, particularly multinational tax avoidance, banking and the energy sector.

Good sources are critical to good journalism. We have always worked closely with our contacts and jealously guard their identities. Absolute confidentiality is assured.

For story contributors, all approaches are welcomed.

For other media, please contact us if you are interested in syndicating stories.

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This website is dedicated to the public interest. Our focus is investigations into big business, particularly multinational tax avoidance, banking and the energy sector.

Good sources are critical to good journalism. We have always worked closely with our contacts and jealously guard their identities. Absolute confidentiality is assured.

For story contributors, all approaches are welcomed.

For other media, please contact us if you are interested in syndicating stories.

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