TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT – AUSTRALIA

PM’s energy free-for-all bid criticised

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Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 28-Feb-19

The federal government has announced $3.5bn worth of funding for initiatives in the energy sector in recent days. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on 27 February that the government will underwrite three Tasmanian pumped hydro projects in 2021 if feasibility studies conclude that they are economically viable. However, several energy industry executives have criticised the government, accusing it of political ‘pork barrelling’ ahead of the election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SNOWY HYDRO LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY REGULATOR, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Lawyers’ bills soar under Coalition

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Original article by Nicola Berkovic
The Australian – Page: 7 : 28-Jun-18

New figures show that the outsourcing of legal work to the private sector has significantly increased the federal government’s legal costs since the Coalition took office in 2013. Government expenditure on legal services topped $A825m in 2016-17, compared with $A689m in 2013-14. The proportion of legal work undertaken by in-house lawyers has fallen from 54 per cent to 49 per cent over the same period. Attorney-General Christian Porter has indicated that action will be taken to rein in legal costs.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SOLICITOR, CLAYTON UTZ

Shorten’s excellent $17,000 coral and coal adventure

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Sarah Elks
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Mar-18

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has disclosed that the Australian Conservation Foundation paid for him to tour the Great Barrier Reef and take a chartered flight over the site of Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine. ACF CEO Kelly O’Shanassy says Shorten subsequently discussed Labor’s options for blocking the Carmichael project with herself and environmentalist Geoff Cousins. Shorten has attracted criticism over his inconsistent stance on coal mining.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INCORPORATED, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Hockey puts tax debate on hold

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 13-Feb-15

The Australian Government will issue its tax white paper after the release of its intergenerational report. Treasurer Joe Hockey said on 12 February 2015 that the intergenerational report will provide significant information about factors that are likely to affect Australia’s tax policy. The Government had originally planned to release the tax white paper before Christmas 2014

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET