global revision Flashcards
Morrison ministries scandal- Secret swearing-In
during the coronavirus pandemic, PM Scott Morrison was secretly sworn in as Minister of 5 portfolios
- Department of Health (14 March 2020)
- Department of Finance (30 March 2020)
- Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (15 April 2021)
- Department of Home Affairs (6 May 2021)
- Department of Treasury (6 May 2021)
There were two Ministers for these portfolios, and existing Ministers were not informed
pep- 11 (Petroleum Exploration Permit 11) gas project-
Licence application overruled by Morrison
- Asset Energy = company which sought to renew its licence and start exploratory drilling
- Application initially approved by Minister Keith Pitt
- Pep-11 proposal unpopular - adjacent electorates
- licence approval threatened Liberal seats
- sitting MPs faced an electoral threats from Teal independents and Labor
Dec 2021 Morrison used his new powers to overrule previous decision by the Minister to renew a gas-drilling licence
Morrison ministries scandal- Governor-General
Gov-Gen, David Hurley, signed Morrison in as Minister without the usual swearing in ceremony
the Governor-General was acting on the directions of the Prime Minister
impact of Morrison ministries scandal on strength of Australian democracy
- Most Cabinet Ministers had no knowledge it had happened
- Greg Hunt (Health) and Keith Pitt (Minister for Industry, Science, Energy and Resources) did know
-The secrecy of swearing in from the public and members of parliament erodes trust and integrity because he was not transparent
-highlights weakness withing parliament as scomo was able to get into so many ministries undetected
robodebt
compliance program
* welfare recipients owed debts to the Clth govt
* ‘debt’ based on assumptions using annual income to estimate average fortnightly income
why was robodebt unfair
- automated system - algorithm
- whistleblowers reported problems 2016
- reversed onus on welfare recipients to prove they did not owe a debt
how was robodebt unlawful
- 2018 Prof Terry Carney (former senior member of the administrative appeals tribunal) warned income averaging not lawful basis to est a debt
impact of robodebt on strength of Australian democracy
2019 Govt admission of error
* admitted error in Fed Court (late 2019)
* abandoned use of “income averaging”
* settled a class action (cost of $1.8bn)
* ‘robodebts’ wiped or refunded
weaken trust in government competences and compassion of citizens because resulted in unnecessary stress and death in some situation
government was challenged by judiciary body and questioned on time and research taken on how policies are developed and implemented
sports rorts- Morrison Government 2019
- Community Sport Infrastructure Grant
Program - funding totaling A$102.5 million was approved for 684 projects
- Report by Australian National Audit Office
- grants # basis of merit
- grants = political purposes
- Audit found that >60% of applications approved by the govt did NOT meet Sports Australia’s target score.
sports rorts-Sports Minister
- National Senator, Bridget McKenzie
- color-coded list based on political impact
- ignored recommendations of Sports Australia
- McKenzie + $36,000 grant to shooting club she was a member of (Wangaratta)
- Feb 2020 McKenzie resigned from the Ministry
impact of sports rorts on strength of Australian democracy
*Shows favoritism within allocation of funding and ministers decisions
*questions whether they actually follow rule based order
*potential abuse of power
*lack of ethical conduct with system
*result in less trust from ppl in sensible decision making
functioning of government (Traits identified by The Economist Democracy index)
- popular trust in democratic institutions
- integrity
- transparency
- accountability
*citizens feel they have control over government
political culture
*degree of support in general for democracy
*societal consensus and cohesion to underpin a stable, functioning democracy
*perception that democracy benefits economic performance
*trust in government and the democratic institutions
*civil rights
*participation
*respect for institutions
