Keeping Them Honest

the case for a genuine National Integrity Commission and other vital democratic reforms
Stephen Charles, Catherine Williams

A revealing and compelling case by Australia’s foremost integrity advocate for a strong national body to expose political corruption, uphold accountability, and restore trust — and why the country needs it now.

Over the last few years, instances of the federal government spending taxpayers’ money to gain improper political advantage in elections have continued, with many hundreds of millions of dollars being spent in the Community Sport Infrastructure Program (‘sports rorts’) and the Urban Congestion Fund (‘car parks rorts’). As Stephen Charles writes, these electorally targeted pork-barrelling exercises are better understood as political corruption, which can take many forms but essentially involves dishonest conduct that undermines trust in our democratic political system.

Keeping Them Honest points to the crucial absence of a federal integrity commission. Victoria has its own Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), and NSW has its Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), but there is no comparable body at the national level that exposes corruption in government and public administration, and that holds wrongdoers to account. While in 2020 the federal government announced legislation for a Commonwealth Integrity Commission, Stephen Charles argues that its insipid terms would protect — rather than expose — ethical breaches by federal politicians.

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Details

Format:Paperback

Size: 234mm × 153mm

ISBN (13):9781922585646

RRP:$32.99

Pub date:29 Mar 2022

Rights Held: World

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Stephen Charles

After a distinguished career at the Victorian Bar and as a Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Stephen Charles AO, QC, is now a board member of the Accountable Round Table and the Centre for Public Integrity. He has been for many years a tireless advocate for the creation of a federal anti-corruption watchdog.

Catherine Williams

Dr Catherine Williams is an adjunct research fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University, where she has lectured and tutored. She holds degrees in Arts and Law and a PhD from La Trobe, and is now research director of the Centre for Public Integrity.