Christian Porter | People

The government has released its draft religious discrimination bill. How will it work?

By Liam Elphick, Amy Maguire & Anja Hilkemeijer

Culture

Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter has released a draft package of religious freedom bills, including the much-anticipated Religious Discrimination Bill. These bills respond to earlier inquiries…

Think a federal corruption watchdog would have little to do? Think again, says former judge

By Stephen Easton

Features

The Morrison government's proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission might struggle for credibility. It has opponents lining up inside and outside federal parliament, including many senior members…

Federal agencies required to use new legal panel for 'bulk' of legal work

By Shannon Jenkins

Economy & Industry

The Attorney General has announced the 62 successful law firms that will make up the first whole-of-government Legal Services Panel. The panel will provide 90%…

Federal ICAC supporters say alleged casino corruption exposes gaps in integrity system

By Stephen Easton

Federal

The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity will investigate lurid allegations suggesting an unsavoury relationship between Australian Border Force, Crown Resorts, and international criminals.

Attorney-general open to reforming 'obtuse' federal whistleblower protection law

By Stephen Easton

Federal

Attorney-general Christian Porter is reportedly open to reforming federal whistleblower-protection legislation to sharpen up the blurry line between legitimate and unauthorised disclosures of information from…

Public corruption hearings at Commonwealth level: a 'risk worth taking' for integrity?

By Stephen Easton

Features

Labor would at least match the Coalition’s commitment to spend $104.5 million over four years on a federal anti-corruption commission, and while 80% of Australians…

Porter's Commonwealth Integrity Commission gets a lukewarm reception

By Stephen Easton

Federal

The Commonwealth Integrity Commission proposed by the Morrison government yesterday received mild support. It is highly unlikely to become a reality, but shows where the…

Geoff Gallop on corruption: politics is the problem, but it's also the solution

By Stephen Easton

Features

The high risk of political corruption is the main reason for special ICAC-style oversight, but governments must be allowed to govern, says former WA Premier…

National Integrity Commission's chief architect: Attorney-General's fears overblown

By A J Brown

Editors' Picks

The Attorney-General is wrong to claim the rights of public servants, ABC journalists and others would be violated by the National Integrity Commission proposed in…

Government says corruption watchdog must protect public servants, before losing control

By Stephen Easton

Federal

The federal government has rejected the idea of a powerful federal anti-corruption commission over concerns about the rights of Commonwealth employees and contractors, but is…

Federal ICAC back on the agenda in federal parliament

By Stephen Easton

Engagement

With the Morrison government losing its lower-house majority, Attorney-General Christian Porter is ready to discuss ways to strengthen the Commonwealth public sector integrity system.

New gender equity targets encourage federal agencies to brief lady lawyers

By Stephen Easton

Federal

New gender equality targets ask federal entities to give at least a quarter of all briefs for senior barristers -- either by number or by…

Burgess: Quaedvlieg lost on the tortuous road of administrative law

By Verona Burgess

Editors' Picks

Roman Quaedvlieg might never return to his post as Australian Border Force commissioner, but there's always avenues of appeal if the Attorney-General decides to sack…

'So far, so good' for Home Affairs, but ABF chief still out in cold

By Stephen Easton

News

It is still not clear whether Australian Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg will ever join the new department, despite a series of new facts on…

NDIS board: accountability, but with no levers to fix the problems

By Luke Bo'sher

Community & Social

The NDIS now has a board with strong corporate credentials, albeit without lived experience of disability. But it won't matter much since it's still ministers…