This paper looks at the political donations contributed by Australia's largest four consultancy groups; KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and Deloitte, and the impact their activity has had on the capability of the Australian Public Service.

In this briefing paper, the Centre for Public Integrity recommends the establishment of an Independent Transparency Monitor to promote access to information by providing a disincentive to secrecy and an independent review mechanism for the Australian Parliament’s requests for documents.

Under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth), disclosures are required of political parties and donors. This analysis collates and categorises disclosures made to the Australian Electoral Commission by both donors and political parties over the period 1998/99 – 2019/2020.

Australia’s freedom of information regime continues to be undermined in practice by inordinate delay, under-resourcing and the abuse of statutory exceptions. In light of these problems, the Centre for Public Integrity outlines a number of recommendations for reform in this briefing paper.

This open access book provides political, legal and public interest justifications for truth in election advertising legislation and examines the history and state of play of legal experiments with such legislation in Australia.