Stephen Charles, Today News Post Journalist Profile

Articles

Only parliaments are able to set up integrity bodies, but politicians hate and fear them

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

The Victorian government has just acted to ensure that the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) is neutered by a subtle gambit in the crafting of the advertisement seeking applicants for the position of Commissioner. The first requirement in the ad was for a leader with demonstrated experience and exceptional capability in: public sector leadership and management.
The NACC Bill: Public hearings crucial to integrity

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

While the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Bill is a major achievement, there are some blemishes. Public hearings are a crucial mechanism in promoting integrity and investigating and exposing corruption and should not be limited. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday last week with my daughter Lucy in Parliament House, Canberra.
The trials of Bernard Collaery and Witness K

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

Australia’s bugging of Timor-Leste’s Cabinet rooms and subsequent hounding of Bernard Collaery and a former intelligence officer was a display of mendacity, duplicity, fraud, criminal trespass and contempt of international law. The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste came into existence on May 20, 2002. The Timor Sea, lying between Australias north and Timor itself, covers various oil and gas fields, all of which are on the Timorese side of the median line.
The prime ministers attack on the NSW ICAC is wholly unjustified

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

The Coalition’s proposal for a national integrity commission shows an arrogant and contemptuous disdain for community demands such a body. Last week the prime minister made an extraordinary attack on the New South Wales Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC), which he described as a kangaroo court making shameful attacks on the former premier Gladys Berejiklian.
A strong federal integrity commission requires public hearings

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

The Coalition parliamentarians who don’t want a federal integrity commission to hold public hearings are among the very people that should be required to answer questions from an integrity commission. NSW’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established by Nick Greiner as premier of New South Wales in 1988. NSW was then riddled with corruption. In the second reading speech, Greiner said that he was appalled by the reputation NSW had acquired around the country and overseas.
Australia must have a strong corruption watchdog, but the Coalition shows little interest.

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

It is now obvious that Australia needs, and most of the community is demanding, a strong national integrity commission. Not, however, the Coalition. Christian Porter, the Attorney-General , was recently quoted as saying that although the government is committed to establishing the Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC), it will only release the draft legislation for it after the management of the COVID-19 crisis has been dealt with. The draft legislation was completed more than six months ago.
The NACCs refusal to consider Robodebt

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

Before the last election in 2022, the Labor opposition promised to establish an integrity commission that would have a broad jurisdiction and strong investigative powers including the capacity to hold public hearings when it was in the public interest to do so. This had been widely supported in the community, including by an open letter sent to the then Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, in December 2018, signed by 34 judges (including myself).
Government introduce Renters Right Bill

Oct 10, 2024 | hawsons.co.uk | Stephen Charles

The Government has recently introduced the much-anticipated Renters Right Bill, aimed at offering greater protection to tenants across the country. This bill represents a significant shift in housing policy, one of its most prominent features is the ban on Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, which currently allow landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason. This provision will apply to both new and existing tenancies.
Tax changes for furnished holiday lets (FHL’s)

Sep 11, 2024 | hawsons.co.uk | Stephen Charles

If you own a furnished holiday property, you may wish to consider taking action before 5 April 2025. In the Spring Budget, it was announced that the Furnished Holiday Let Regime will be abolished and draft legislation has now been published, which has provided some clarity on transitional relief and anti-avoidance.
The NACC’s refusal to consider Robodebt

Sep 7, 2024 | johnmenadue.com | Stephen Charles

Before the last election in 2022, the Labor opposition promised to establish an integrity commission that would have a broad jurisdiction and strong investigative powers including the capacity to hold public hearings when it was in the public interest to do so. This had been widely supported in the community, including by an open letter sent to the then Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, in December 2018, signed by 34 judges (including myself).