iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Who gets invited to apply for public money? The Government says its $560.9m community grants program followed the rules. But it has not publicly explained how projects were selected for an invitation. Our factsheet examines this gap. Link below👇 #auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The analysis does not conclude that individual grants lacked merit. It shows why public confidence requires transparent, merit-based decisions and enforceable standards. Read Public money, political advantage?: publicintegrity.org.au/research_pap... 5/

publicintegrity.org.au

Public money, political advantage?

Of $559.2 million in community infrastructure grants, 73.2% went to ALP-held divisions. New analysis finds need does not explain where the money landed.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Could community need explain the pattern? The Centre tested household income and community connectedness. Neither showed a discernible relationship with grant intensity. In total, 45 electoral divisions received no funding. 4/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Marginal seats in which Labor was competitive received $66.5 million more than a proportional distribution would predict. Marginal seats in which Labor was not competitive, and safe or fairly safe non-Labor seats, received a combined $116.6 million less. 3/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Of the $559.2 million covered by the analysis, 73.2% — $409.1 million — was allocated to seats notionally held by the ALP. For every $1 allocated to a Coalition-held seat, more than $3.20 was allocated to an ALP-held seat. 2/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

$560.9 million in community infrastructure grants. Invitation only. No published explanation of how eligibility was determined. New research from the Centre for Public Integrity has struck a chord in the media and with the public. Some key pieces of the research 👇 1/ #auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

It really was! We were lucky to get such a well informed group together!

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Centre's Chair, Anthony Whealy KC, in the SMH: Not all lobbyists are the problem, but the revolving door between government and industry is out of control. #auspol www.smh.com.au/national/not...

smh.com.au

Not all lobbyists are bad, but their revolving door is out of control

There is no transparency about what lobbyists do, who they lobby and on what.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

From gambling and gun policy to Big Tech and fossil fuels, lobbying plays a powerful role in shaping public decisions. But Australia’s federal lobbying system remains opaque, unequal and poorly regulated. 1/ #auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The bottom line The bill is an important emergency repair job. But the post-election independent review is the real opportunity to build a fair, durable and evidence-based political finance system for Victoria. 12/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Some features also raise concerns, including expanded public funding for parties, unfair treatment of independents, and powers to change caps and thresholds through regulation. 11/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Other gaps remain: fundraising events, self-funded campaigns, and affiliation fees from unions, businesses and think tanks are not properly addressed. 10/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

But this is not gold-standard reform The bill does not include expenditure caps. Donation caps alone are not enough if election spending remains uncapped. 9/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Restoring disclosure is essential. Victorians should know who is funding political campaigns before they vote. 8/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

It brings back donation caps. But the cap is higher than before: $10,000 for the 2026 election, compared with the previous $4,970 cap. New entrants get a doubled cap.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

What’s in the short-term fix? The bill restores 21-day disclosure obligations for donations over $1,250. It also bans foreign and anonymous donations. 6/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The bill requires a three-person expert panel after the November 2026 election. The panel cannot be dominated by politicians, must consult the public and stakeholders, and must consider options for a comprehensive political finance framework. 5/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Why the review matters Political finance laws are hard to get right because politicians are writing rules that affect their own electoral interests. That is why independent, evidence-based scrutiny is essential. 4/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

What has happened now? After weeks of negotiation with the crossbench, the Allan Government has introduced new laws to restore some key safeguards. But the major win is what happens next: an independent post-election review. 3/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The gap opened after the High Court struck down Victoria’s political donation laws because of preferential treatment for “nominated entities” linked to major parties. 2/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Since 15 April, Victoria has had no meaningful political finance laws. That means no reliable way for voters to know who is funding political campaigns. This is a serious threat to democratic integrity. 🧵 1/ #auspol #vicpol #politicalfinance

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Read the article on the website here: www.theaustralian.com.au/business/leg...

theaustralian.com.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The Big Four enjoy legal protections designed for accountants — even as they make most of their money as consultants. The Centre's Chair, The Hon Anthony Whealy, asks: who is this really protecting? #auspol

Screenshot of an article arguing that Australia’s oversight of the Big Four accounting and consulting firms is failing. It says the PwC tax leaks affair and new KPMG whistleblower allegations raise serious questions about whether firms such as PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and EY should benefit from broad statutory liability caps. The article discusses a Supreme Court of NSW challenge brought by Professor Brendan Lyon against the Professional Standards Council and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, questioning whether liability protections meant for qualified accountants should extend to wide-ranging consulting and advisory work. It also cites Centre for Public Integrity research on the growth of Commonwealth consulting contracts, the concentration of spending among the Big Four, political donations, and risks to public-sector independence and accountability.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

They argued anything less would risk “perpetuating the cloud” over the agency. 5/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

“The next commissioner cannot be appointed behind closed doors,” said the letter, co-signed by Whealy, alongside signatories including Michael Barker, KC, Margaret White, professors Allan Fels and Joo Cheong Tham and Geoffrey Watson, SC. 4/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

The Centre for Public Integrity warns that the appointment process must be fundamentally reset. In a letter to the attorney-general, the centre called for a public call for applications, published criteria, and an independent selection panel to constrain ministerial discretion. 3/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

“For too long it has operated in secrecy,” he said. “It’s no wonder that its staff are uneasy with calls for robust accountability and transparency. Open accountability must become the norm if the NACC is to fulfil its statutory purpose.” 2/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

But Anthony Whealy, KC, the Chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, an independent research institute, said that response summed up the importance of changing the culture at the commission. 1/ #auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Integrity agency independence is not a label. It is a system of safeguards. The NACC must be independent, accountable and trusted. Read Beyond Labels: Securing Functional Independence for Core Integrity Agencies: 8/ t.co/PXR1qGgjYa

t.co

https://buff.ly/iL7Nzle

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Oversight must also be carefully designed. Integrity agencies must be accountable. But oversight should not become another avenue for political control. The report recommends non-government-dominated parliamentary committees and independent inspectors for agencies with coercive powers. 7/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Funding matters too. Under-resourced watchdogs cannot properly do their job. The report recommends independent and transparent funding processes, including separate appropriations arrangements and an Independent Funding Panel. 6/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Appointments matter because leadership matters. Integrity agency heads must be willing and able to exercise their powers robustly — including where matters involve powerful public officials. That requires an open, independent and merit-based process. 5/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The upcoming NACC appointments are a critical opportunity. The Government should legislate a transparent, merit-based appointments process with independent assessment and meaningful parliamentary oversight. That is how public confidence can begin to be restored. 4/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Independence must be designed. Our report identifies three levers that can undermine integrity agencies if left too exposed to executive control: 💰 funding 🤝 appointments 👀 oversight 3/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The issue is bigger than one agency. Australia’s core integrity agencies — anti-corruption commissions, auditors-general and ombudsman offices — are central to public trust in government. But independence cannot simply be declared in legislation. 2/

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The NACC resignation could be a turning point. Integrity agencies exist to hold public power to account. But recent controversies show they also need strong safeguards of their own. New research report released by the Centre today 👇 1/ #auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Why do some scandals lead to reform, while others disappear from the news cycle? Nick Feik joins Will Partlett on The Integrity Puzzle to discuss how investigative journalism, whistleblowers, inquiries, crossbench pressure and civil society can help turn exposure into accountability. #auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Victoria has no ban on foreign political donations, no donation cap and no disclosure requirement after the High Court struck down its framework. The Centre's Dr Catherine Williams calls the “regulatory vacuum” a “crisis situation” requiring an “emergency response” Link below #auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

A watchdog without resources cannot properly hold government to account. The 2026–27 Budget cuts the Auditor-General’s funding in real terms — despite repeated warnings the ANAO’s position is unsustainable. Read more in our factsheet: #auspol publicintegrity.org.au/wp-content/u...

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The next NACC Deputy Commissioner should be appointed through: • public advertising • published selection criteria • an independent selection panel • full transparency for parliamentary scrutiny Public confidence depends on the integrity of the process. #auspol

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