Keeping Them Honest: the case for a genuine national integrity commission and other vital democratic reforms

(Paperback)

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A revealing and compelling case for the establishment of a strong national anti-corruption body and the enactment of other vital democratic reforms. Over the last few years, instances of the federal government spending taxpayers' money to gain improper political advantage in elections have continued, with many hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on the Community Sport Infrastructure Program (aka the Sports Rorts) and the Urban Congestion Fund (the Carpark Rorts). As Stephen Charles writes, these electorally targeted pork-barrelling exercises are better understood as political corruption, which can take many forms but essentially involves dishonest conduct that undermines trust in our democratic political system. Keeping Them Honest points to the crucial absence of a federal integrity commission to expose corruption in government and public administration, and to hold wrongdoers to account. While the federal government promised to establish such a commission in 2018 (a promise since abandoned), Stephen Charles argues that, in any case, its insipid terms would protect - rather than expose - ethical breaches by federal politicians. As well, as Catherine Williams reveals, there is an overwhelming need to deal with the dark side of Australia's political system- the hidden influence of political donors and lobbyists, including the revolving door between lobbyists and former ministers; the absence of controls on electoral expenditure and political advertising; and the cavalier, unregulated expenditure of public money. Keeping Them Honest explains what we need to do to expose political corruption, uphold accountability, and restore trust - and why we need to do it now. 'The authors do not mince their words in this scathing critique of the federal government's failure to deliver a national integrity commission, and their attempts to buy votes ... Surveying historic instances of corruption and the state commissions that exposed them, Stephen Charles and Catherine Williams not only make a strong case for a national commission with real bite - as opposed to the toothless Commonwealth Integrity Commission proposed by the Coalition - but also lay out reforms required to make our democratic process genuinely democratic.' -The Sydney Morning Herald 'Charles and Williams's Keeping Them Honest is a vital resource at a critical moment in Australia's national life ... it is a robust, practical, and concise road- map for how to rescue Australian national politics from the murk in which the Morrison government has mired us.' -Chris Wallace, Australian Book Review ' T he authors' genuine anguish at the erosion of democratic norms shines through ... A national integrity commission might not be sufficient to repair Australian democracy, but Keeping Them Honest makes a strong case for its necessity.' -Jeff Sparrow, The Saturday Paper

Author Bio

Stephen Charles, AO, QC (Author) After a distinguished career at the Victorian Bar and as a Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Stephen Charles AO, QC, is now a board member of the Accountable Round Table and the Centre for Public Integrity. He has been for many years a tireless advocate for the creation of a federal anti-corruption watchdog. Catherine Williams (Author) Dr Catherine Williams is an adjunct research fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University, where she has lectured and tutored. She holds degrees in Arts and Law and a PhD from La Trobe, and is now research director of the Centre for Public Integrity.