Australia - Corruption Updates (19 Dec 2014)

[Facilitator's note: Thank you to Tony Prescott, Executive Director, Corruption Fighters, for sharing these updates.]

#1:  Colin Barnett denies knowledge of Dean Nalder scandal. Premier Colin Barnett maintained he was unaware of his Transport Minister's conflict-of-interest scandal until Thursday despite stating everyone knew about Dean Nalder's business background when he took office in March. WA Today - 1 December 2014 http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/colin-barnett-denies-knowledge-of-dean-nalder-scandal-20141201-11xrwv.html

#2:  Department of Premier and Cabinet knew of 'conflict': Nalder. WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder has no plans to resign his post despite being embroiled in a conflict-of-interest scandal over his private business interests. WA Today - 1 December 2014. http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/department-of-premier-and-cabinet-knew-of-conflict-nalder-20141201-11x6i7.html

#3:  Ryde former mayor Ivan Petch quits after failing to overturn corruption findings. Former mayor Ivan Petch has resigned from the Ryde City Council after failing to have corruption findings made against him by the Independent Commission Against Corruption overturned. Sydney Morning Herald - 1 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ryde-former-mayor-ivan-petch-quits-after-failing-to-overturn-corruption-findings-20141201-11xtx9.html

#4:  Premier's department 'comfortable' with business dealings: Nalder. WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder says the Department of Premier and Cabinet did not suggest he should cut ties with a car leasing company at the centre of a conflict-of-interest scandal. WA Today - 1 December 2014. http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/premiers-department-comfortable-with-business-dealings-nalder-20141201-11xo9n.html

#5:  Conflict sagas the chink in Colin Barnett's armour. With its long history of dodgy political dealings, it is incomprehensible that in 2014, we find a West Australian Premier struggling to deal with allegations of ministerial impropriety. WA Today - 2 December 2014 http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/conflict-sagas-the-chink-in-colin-barnetts-armour-20141202-11yiad.html

#6:  Calls for federal ICAC as Australia slips outside top 10 'clean' countries in global corruption ranking. Australia has slipped outside the top 10  "clean" countries in an annual global corruption index, prompting calls for a federal body with a broader reach than the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption. Sydney Morning Herald - 3 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/calls-for-federal-icac-as-australia-slips-outside-top-10-clean-countries-in-global-corruption-ranking-20141203-11ygwk.html

#7:  National ICAC needed to probe federal politicians, says NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption counsel Geoffrey Watson, SC. Federal politicians may be corrupt and a national ICAC is needed to clean out Canberra, according to the counsel assisting the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, Geoffrey Watson, SC. Canberra Times - 5 December 2014 http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/national-icac-needed-to-probe-federal-politicians-says-nsw-independent-commission-against-corruption-counsel-geoffrey-watson-sc-20141204-12093d.html

#8:  Barry O'Farrell's demise features in suspicious ALP Wollongong branch books. The minutes of the April 7 meeting of the Labor Party's Mount Keira branch in the Illawarra records a lively discussion about the resignation of NSW premier Barry O'Farrell. Sydney Morning Herald - 5 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/barry-ofarrells-demise-features-in-suspicious-alp-wollongong-branch-books-20141205-1212kl.html

#9:  ICAC warns Margaret Cunneen victory could jeopardise other inquiries. The Independent Commission Against Corruption will ask the High Court to overturn a decision shutting down its controversial inquiry into Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, warning the decision jeopardises other inquiries. Sydney Morning Herald - 5 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/icac-warns-margaret-cunneen-victory-could-jeopardise-other-inquiries-20141205-120axp.html

#10:  Former Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson caught up in new ICAC inquiry. Graham Richardson, one of the Labor Party's most enduringly controversial figures, is embroiled in a potentially explosive investigation being conducted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Sydney Morning Herald - 5 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/former-labor-powerbroker-graham-richardson-caught-up-in-new-icac-inquiry-20141205-1217ha.html

#11:  Release of secret report into police bugging scandal blocked by Premier's department. The release of a secret report into a police bugging scandal has been blocked by Premier Mike Baird's department, leading to warnings the dispute may end up before the Supreme Court. Sydney Morning Herald - 6 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/release-of-secret-report-into-police-bugging-scandal-blocked-by-premiers-department-20141205-120vju.html

#12:  Police Integrity Commission blasted by court for straying outside powers. The Police Integrity Commission has been slammed for using one of its own investigators to bring a private prosecution in Queensland against five serving and retired officers, despite it having no power to conduct prosecutions in any case. Sydney Morning Herald - 8 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-integrity-commission-blasted-by-court-for-straying-outside-powers-20141208-122h8d.html

#13:  Premier Colin Barnett announces WA cabinet reshuffle. West Australian minister Dean Nalder has been stripped of his finance portfolio as part of a cabinet reshuffle after conflict of interest controversies. Brisbane Times - 8 December 2014 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/wa-news/premier-colin-barnett-announces-wa-cabinet-reshuffle-20141208-122i19.html

#14:  Public service clean, survey says, but corruption experts skeptical. The federal bureaucracy is almost squeaky clean, say staff, who have reported the lowest level of suspected corruption in years. Canberra Times - 8 December 2014 http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/public-service-clean-survey-says-but-corruption-experts-sceptical-20141208-11zyj7.html

#15:  Victorian schools in $28 million slush fund. High-ranking Victorian education officials operated a secret $28 million slush fund that used money designated for needy schools to instead pay for unauthorised overseas travel, cars and boozy conferences. Sydney Morning Herald - 9 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/national/investigations/victorian-schools-in-28-million-slush-fund-20141208-122pgx.html

#16:  Margaret Cunneen ruling paves way for raft of cases against ICAC. Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen's successful court case against the Independent Commission Against Corruption has opened the door to a raft of legal challenges to past corruption inquiries involving the Obeids and other high-profile figures. Canberra Times - 10 December 2014 http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nsw/margaret-cunneen-ruling-paves-way-for-raft-of-cases-against-icac-20141209-1233wu.html

#17:  Report into allegations surrounding WA Transport Minister released. Premier Colin Barnett says he needs embattled Transport Minister Dean Nalder in Cabinet, despite Labor demanding he be sacked following a damning report that found multiple breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct by the Minister. WA Today - 11 December 2014 http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/report-into-allegations-surrounding-wa-transport-minister-released-20141211-12534s.html

#18:  Fallout over Dean Nalder's finances hits his office as staff member leaves. The fallout from the Dean Nalder conflict-of-interest scandal continues, with his acting chief of staff moving into a different role and another key staff member leaving his office. WA Today - 12 December 2014 http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/fallout-over-dean-nalders-finances-hits-his-office-as-staff-member-leaves-20141212-1260vx.html

#19:  Former University of Queensland researcher charged over alleged fraud. A former University of Queensland researcher has been accused of applying for money to fund a study that was never carried out. Brisbane Times - 12 December 2014 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/former-university-of-queensland-researcher-charged-over-alleged-fraud-20141212-125u22.html

#20:  Police officer to face court accused of hacking police computer. A police officer charged with 11 counts of unlawfully accessing a police computer is due to face court on Friday. WA Today - 12 December 2014 http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/police-officer-to-face-court-accused-of-hacking-police-computer-20141212-125nkh.html

#21:  High Court to hear ICAC's appeal against Margaret Cunneen decision. The High Court is set to have the final say about whether the Independent Commission Against Corruption can investigate Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen over allegations she perverted the course of justice. Sydney Morning Herald - 12 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/high-court-to-hear-icacs-appeal-against-margaret-cunneen-decision-20141212-1255be.html

#22:  Anti-corruption heavyweights bound for Brisbane. Queensland's anti-corruption processes will come under scrutiny next year at a pre-election conference in Brisbane next year. Brisbane Times - 14 December 2014 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/anticorruption-heavyweights-bound-for-brisbane-20141213-126mon.html

#23:  WA government scandal: Dean Nalder hasn't the nous for leadership. A couple of years ago I was impressed by the response US President Barack Obama gave to a school student who asked him for advice on how to go about getting the top job in American politics during a live TV interview. WA Today - 14 December 2014 http://www.watoday.com.au/comment/wa-government-scandal-dean-nalder-hasnt-the-nous-for-leadership-20141214-126w37.html

#24:  Judge annoyed over claim about Moses Obeid's hospitalization. Moses Obeid's barrister has had to apologise to a Supreme Court judge after information about his client's hospitalisation was found to be incorrect. Sydney Morning Herald - 15 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/judge-annoyed-over-claim-about-moses-obeids-hospitalisation-20141214-126spi.html

#25:  Eddie Obeid stripped of Order of Australia medal. Moses Obeid's barrister has had to apologise to a Supreme Court judge after information about his client's hospitalisation was found to be incorrect. Sydney Morning Herald - 16 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/judge-annoyed-over-claim-about-moses-obeids-hospitalisation-20141214-126spi.html

#26:  Watchdog exposes tricks public servants use to avoid sharing information with the public. A government watchdog has exposed some of the techniques federal public servants use to wrongfully prevent citizens from accessing their own records. Sydney Morning Herald - 17 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/national/public-service/watchdog-exposes-tricks-public-servants-use-to-avoid-sharing-information-with-the-public-20141217-1296by.html

#27:  ICAC calls for party chiefs to face tough new sanctions for breach of donations laws. The Independent Commission Against Corruption has recommended an overhaul of political donations laws in NSW, including criminal charges for party chiefs who fail to ensure compliance with the rules. Sydney Morning Herald - 17 December 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/icac-calls-for-party-chiefs-to-face-tough-new-sanctions-for-breach-of-donations-laws-20141217-1290oc.html

#28:  Craig Thomson's dire legacy to the union...and honesty. Craig Thomson, a bright young man with two degrees and a stint at Harvard, came to parliament in 2007 with two messages ringing out from his maiden speech. WA Today - 17 December 2014 http://www.watoday.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/craig-thomsons-dire-legacy-to-the-unionand-honesty-20141217-129aed.html

Tony Prescott
Founder and Executive Director
Corruption Fighters
Canberra, AUSTRALIA
Ph: +61-(0) 421463711
Email: corruptionfighters@hotmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CorruptFighters
Skype: tony.prescott1971