Australia’s government is become increasingly more corrupt we now rank equal 13th (tied with Hong Kong) on the “Transparency International’s – Corruption Perception Index 2017”, when in years gone by we were in the top five. However, it’s not too surprising to those who know that the government does not have an independent body who is able to keep the government in check, an unchecked government is detrimental to our democracy. The Australian government is becoming more and more prone to lobbying and corporate cash thus turning our elected officials into puppets for the rich and powerful, and the Australian people can see this:
• Transparency International’s recent global corruption barometer showed 56% of Australian respondents reported that they had witnessed or suspected favourable treatment from government in exchange for donations or support.
• About 85% said they believed some, most or all federal members of parliament were corrupt – nine percentage points higher than the year before.
• Guardian Australia revealed last month that 52% of all registered lobbyists had previously worked inside government or party structures. One in four had previously staffed the offices of politicians.
If we continue along this path very soon the Australian people will have no trust in the government, the officials will be completely brought by large multinational corporations and our democracy would have eroded into what is essentially an oligarchy.
The shockwaves from this legalized bribery have been felt outside of the 2 party system in Australia with many cross benchers now introducing a bill for a national integrity commission, with wide-ranging powers covering politicians, agencies, lobbyists and private contractors when they are directly dealing with government, such as the NDIS. Andrew Wilkie, Cathy McGowan, Kerryn Phelps, Adam Bandt and Rebekha Sharkie, are the fantastic crossbenchers who are sick of the 2 main parties dragging their feet on such an important issue.
What I’m worried about is that because it’s the cross benchers trying to push it through, they need as much support as possible and let’s say they start with a really strong bill that can fight corruption but in order to get support from their colleagues they have to start weakening it until the whole bill is toothless and is nothing more than symbolic piece of legislation that says something along the lines of: “Hey you, don’t be corrupt or else I’ll shake my fist at you” (that’s basically what we have now). Because as good as Labor is on some issues unfortunately, they too accept a lot of corporate cash and a lack of an independent body to oversee their corruption is in their best interest, all Liberal and Labor want is to hold power at the expense of everyone else. Furthermore, crossbenchers aren’t always the best at playing politics and I just see this bill gaining some traction, the 2 main parties gutting it and taking it as their own and every Australian rejoicing as nothing at all changes except some piecemeal shit around the edges.
In this piece of legislation supposedly there is a provision about whistleblower protection, now if I’m wrong (which is possible) and this bill passes with amazing support, the bill is a complete success and the Australian government becomes less corrupt, is there a chance that Julian Assange can be brought back to Australia and hailed a hero for the work he has done whistleblowing on government wrong doings? Because in my ideal world where everything is a perfect leftist dream and we all wear tie die and hug trees and shit, Assange would be free to roam the streets, whilst continuing his tirade against corrupt governments. But that probably won’t happen because the establishment in America and Australia have done a fantastic job painting him as a traitor even though it wasn’t Assange who bombed innocent civilians, you know the old saying don’t shoot the messenger? Yeah, me too.
All in all a bill against corruption has cross bench support it also has conservative support, it would be political suicide for Labor not to sign on to it this close to an election and they should get out ahead of this so that Liberals look like they are the corrupt ones, its good politics to sign on to this and even help the draft some meaningful legislation for it, the Australian people a clambering for some sense of real leadership and change that doesn’t involve the party stabbing the current prime minister in the back and taking up his mantel and this is the way to do it.
References:
Crossbenchers to push forward with bill for anti-corruption body
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/14/crossbenchers-to-push-forward-with-bill-for-anti-corruption-body
Federal Icac: call for anti-corruption body after 'shocking' lack of public trust revealed
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/17/federal-icac-call-for-anti-corruption-body-after-shocking-lack-of-public-trust-revealed
CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2017
https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2017#table