A post-election review of accountability
The Albanese Government signed off on a code of conduct for ministers in 2022 saying it was committed to integrity, honesty and accountability and would act in a manner consistent with the highest ethical standards. It would also have due regard for...
Vale The Hon. Thomas (Tim) Harrison Smith AM 5.8.1940 – 8.6.2025
Accountability Round Table is deeply saddened by the passing of its founder, Tim Smith. His tireless commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in government and to the precept that “public office is a public trust” set the...
Vale The Hon. Stephen Pendrill Charles AO KCC, 21.7.1937-13.6.2025
Accountability Round Table is greatly saddened to have lost its former director, Stephen Charles. Stephen was a tireless warrior for government accountability. Working with both Accountability Round Table and the Centre for Public Policy, he made immense...
Vale The Hon. Dr Race Mathews, 27.3.1935 – 5.5.2025
Race Mathews was a giant force in public life. He was Gough Whitlam's private secretary while Whitlam was in opposition in Federal Parliament. During that period he was instrumental in the development of the ALP policy of Medicare which had started life as a...
Justice Pritchard’s Jim Carlton Lecture – Prerogative Pardons and the Rule of Law
In light of President Trump’s pardons of friends, associates and political allies, and President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, it has been observed that in a Presidential system there can occasionally, or indeed frequently, be an overreach of executive...
The 2025 Federal Election
Our message to candidates and voters is this: members of parliament should always act in the interests of their constituents and the nation Parliament must hold Government to account reform is urgently needed in accessing information, campaign financing, lobbying, and...
Party Loyalty – Conflict and the Public Interest
'The Pledge' by Barry Jones At the first election to the Commonwealth Parliament in 1901, 15 Members of the House of Representatives and 8 Senators were chosen with the support of Labour organisations in each state. There was then no national party structure....
Failure to act when corruption or lack of integrity is found or suspected
A major cause of public disillusionment with governments, public servants and big business is the number of instances of reprehensible behaviour or misuse of office for which the perpetrators do not appear to have been appropriately sanctioned or punished. Our...
In their interests!
Democratic government is founded on the idea that decisions of government should reflect the will of those people eligible to vote and to vote, you must be a citizen of Australia and a resident in the electorate in which you are voting. It is people not corporations,...
ART proposes balanced electoral campaign reforms
While it is good that the Government has finally made public its proposed changes to the current campaign finance system, the ART, a longstanding advocate for improving public accountability in Australia, is concerned the changes will not achieve fair and balanced...