ART Board Membership
The Accountability Round Table is a non-partisan group of citizens with diverse backgrounds (journalists, lawyers, academics, former politicians and judges) and extensive experience in parliament, government and the courts. The Round Table is dedicated to improving...
Our Public Service, Our Future – ART commentary on Government response
There is much in this report that is useful in summarising the state of the Australian Public Service, both its strengths and weaknesses. It also reflects recent disquiet about secrecy, abuse of process, and public mistrust. Most recommendations are rather bland, at...
Bernard Collaery’s case threatens freedom of expression
Professor Zifcak says: The real problem for Witness K and Collaery is that section 39 of the Intelligence Services Act has no public interest defence, in other words, they can’t argue that disclosing the confidential information was done in the public interest, and...
Senate Select Committee on COVID-19. ART Submission
This submission to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 was made by Accountability Round table on 27 May 2020. It addresses the absence of independent scrutiny of government actions during the period of the Covid19 crisis. In particular, the exclusion of...
Petitions to the House of Reps and the Senate
ART Media | ART launches petitions calling on all Australian Parliaments to sit through the Covid-19 crisis The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the greatest expansion of executive power in generations. Yet the evidence supporting these powers and the decisions...
McKenzie sacrificial lamb but corruption runs deeper – Stephen Charles
McKenzie sacrificial lamb but corruption runs deeper By Stephen Charles AO QC, former Victorian Court of Appeal judge and director of The Centre for Public Integrity. Published online in the Canberra Times February 7 2020 - 4:30AM...
A Government’s first duty is to protect its citizens – a letter
David Harper, Former Supreme Court Judge and now Secretary and Director of ART writes to his local Federal member,The Hon Michael Sukkar, Assistant Treasurer. We should all do this.... ____________________________________ Dear Michael, Drought, hot weather and...
Realities of Open Government Workshop, 12 Feb 2020, 1.30-4.30pm
Open Government Workshop, 12 Feb 2020, 1.30-4.30pm Interested in government transparency, accountability and how to power public participation? You are invited to a workshop to hear about open government and to share your ideas. Keynote speakers are * Daniel Stewart...
ART Integrity Awards for 45th Parliament
Accountability Round Table Integrity AwardsOn 15th October 2019, ART welcomed two outstanding recipients of its awards for conspicuous integrity in the 45th Parliament: – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tony Smith MP, received the John Button Award –...
Citations for Speaker, Tony Smith MP & Cathy McGowan, former Member for Indi
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tony Smith MP, is the recipient of the John Button Award for his exemplary conduct in the vital role of Speaker. The role of the Speaker in maintaining the dignity of the House is often overlooked. In his four years...
Strengthen or weaken democracy? UK Supreme Court ruling that Boris Johnson’s prorogue was unlawful.
Does the UK Court decision to rule Johnson's Prorogation of Parliament strengthen or weaken democracy? David Harper, former Judge of the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Victoria, and ART member suggests that the UK decision should strengthen democracy. Read on for...