In August 2022, Virginia Bell AC was appointed to conduct an inquiry into the appointment of former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, to administer departments other than the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and related matters. This report outlines the findings from the inquiry.

This paper addresses the Tasmanian government’s objections to legislating truth in political advertising laws, as part of the review of the Electoral Act currently underway.

This report sets out recommendations for significant improvements to donations and lobbying regulations in Victoria. These recommendations are based on analysis of Victoria's regulatory framework and the experience of other Australian and comparable international jurisdictions and broader research.

The matters highlighted in this report from the Legislative Council Privileges Committee (Vic), based on findings contained in the (IBA) Operation Watts report, indicate that Mr Adem Somyurek committed a number of breaches in the performance of his parliamentary duties.

This joint investigation, conducted by IBAC and the Victorian Ombudsman, was initiated following allegations of serious corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers, including Members of Parliament. The joint investigation examined a range of matters, including allegations of misuse of electorate offices, ministerial office staff and...

Many federal and state government boards, tribunals and agencies are stacked with people who have worked in politics – almost always for the party that was in government when they got the job. This report argues that Australian politics has a growing ‘jobs for mates’...

This paper argues that Boris Johnson should take the steps to establish and enforce the high standards the public expects of the UK government and to help restore trust in public life.

Building on research and analysis published by Grattan Institute since it was founded 13 years ago, this report identifies reforms to boost incomes, improve health and education, create better transport links, make housing more affordable, generate meaningful progress on climate change, and strengthen Australia’s political...

Liberal democracy across the West is under strain. The causes of these democratic challenges are many and complex, but there is a common thread - a decline in political trust. This report outlines four major areas of challenge for policy-makers to focus on to improve...

The UK government’s u-turn in the Owen Paterson (MP) case has yet again raised the question of how standards in public life can be upheld. This paper sets out the Institute for Government’s recommendations – drawn from a recent conference and their wider work on...

Independent federal MP Zali Steggall claimed that, in contrast to consumer law, it was “perfectly legal” to lie in Australian political advertising. Experts told Fact Check there were no catch-all federal laws to prevent lies in political ads, though they said existing laws might apply...

Repeated controversies over ministerial behaviour and failures in the process of investigating possible breaches of the ministerial code show that the ministerial code, in its current form, is no longer working. This paper offers recommendations on how Boris Johnson should overhaul the ministerial code to...

This report calls for new rules to extend the prohibition on former cabinet ministers lobbying government, new enforcement powers to ensure ministerial rules are followed, and greater transparency surrounding the outside interests of civil servants.

This inquiry was initiated following evidence that Senator Bridget McKenzie, the former Federal Sports Minister, had intervened in grant allocation decisions regarding the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program in order to gain political advantage for Coalition candidates and members in the 2019 federal election.

The objective of this audit was to examine the effectiveness of the Australian Electoral Commission’s management of financial disclosures required under Part XX of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, including the extent to which the AEC is achieving accurate and complete financial disclosures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed yet again the frailty and inadequacy of government built on narratives of “us vs them”, of blame and fear. It is time to stand up to the politics of “us vs them”, to assert that we are one humanity. This...

The objective of the audit was to assess whether the award of funding under the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program was informed by an appropriate assessment process and sound advice.

Perceived lack of integrity in Australia’s political and bureaucratic processes is partlially due to weak laws regulating the flow and transparency of money in government. This discussion paper includes a 15 point plan to eliminate the undue influence of money in politics.

This report recommends that, in light of the new information uncovered by the inquiry and media reporting, the Prime Minister should request the incoming Secretary of his Department to re-open the investigation of Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop, to determine if they have breached the...

This report outlines the scope of the position of Parliamentary Integrity Adviser in Victoria.

No matter how much he wants it, Scott Morrison can never be a unifying mourner-in-chief, writes Peter Brent.

This two part blog post revolves outlines the personal and practical experiences acquired over the years in the author's capacities as a public servant and private citizen in Papua New Guinea.

New evidence shows the Scott Morrison’s $260 million payment to NT was not a longstanding policy. Attempts to get to the bottom of things using Freedom of Information have been blocked.

Viewed warmly on both sides of politics and in the media, the federal finance minister is playing a vital role for the government.

Barnaby Joyce’s decision to accept money from Channel Seven in return for giving an interview about his relationship with his former staffer, Vikki Campion, calls into question his fitness for public office.