October 2023
Senate’s Transparency Warrior flings the invisibility cloak
Former independent senator Rex Patrick has turned the FOI game into a tidy earner, lodging documents for corporates, while shielding identities.
January 2023
Jacqui Lambie threatens Senate action to see PM’s diary
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could be forced to hand over his official diary if the independent pushes through action in the Senate.
Anthony Albanese’s diary: PM demands $1344 to see who he’s met
Transparency experts have labelled the prime minister’s approach to releasing extracts of his diary disconcerting and unreasonable.
June 2022
Meet the man bringing cut-price solar to Australia
A snap decision to save an experimental solar panel factory from the scrap heap is key to Andrew Forrest’s plan to make Australia a hydrogen superpower without relying on China. Listen to episode 2 of the Tech Zero podcast.
May 2022
Zali Steggall unloads on Scott Morrison in debate
Teal independent member for Warringah Zali Steggall unloaded on Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a debate in Canberra, saying she questioned his trustworthiness.
March 2022
Rex Patrick talks to Holmes à Court about possible lower house tilt
Weighing his future ahead of the federal election, the crossbencher discussed support from the cashed up Climate 200 group
Rex Patrick reconsiders plans after Xenophon flags comeback
Former South Australian independent Senator Nick Xenophon has declared he will run for the Senate at the federal election.
February 2022
Call for oil and gas benefits czar
Senator Rex Patrick has called for a body to be set up that ensures Australia’s national interest is served through the development of oil and gas reserves.
Josh Frydenberg sustains full-body gravel rash
Frydenberg’s complete lack of political judgment has been exposed for all to see.
Frydenberg rolled on proxy advice changes
The Senate has overturned Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s controversial proxy advice regulations just three days after they came into force.
January 2022
Dud deal costs oil industry $3.4b
A seven-year-old dud sale of a depleted oil tenement in the Timor Sea has morphed into the biggest hit to the oil and gas industry since the petroleum resource rent tax was introduced in 1987.
One Nation rebuffs attempt to kill off proxy overhaul
Pauline Hanson says the Parliament has no time for Rex Patrick’s posturing.
Senate committee demands A-G show how class action changes constitutional
A senate committee has ordered the Attorney-General’s department to show how the Morrison government has the constitutional power to enact its controversial proposed class action law reforms.
October 2021
ATO boss facing rare Senate contempt order over JobKeeper list
Tax commissioner Chris Jordan faces jail time or a fine of up to $5000 over the growing transparency stand-off.
September 2021
Rennick to cross floor on national cabinet secrecy laws
LNP senator Gerard Rennick says he will vote against the government’s move to exclude national cabinet from information disclosure laws.
JobKeeper mistakes top $1b in payouts
Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan says about $203 million has been voluntarily repaid by firms which made big pandemic profits
One Nation blocks JobKeeper transparency push
Standing in the way of moves by Rex Patrick and Labor for a public register of JobKeeper recipients, Malcolm Roberts has proposed a new audit.
Rex Patrick threatens ATO boss with contempt of parliament
Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan faces referral to a parliamentary committee over JobKeeper recipient data.
August 2021
Row intensifies over disclosing JobKeeper recipients’ details
Business groups and the government have rounded on attempts to publicly disclose the individual details of companies that received JobKeeper payments.
Labor pushes for JobKeeper recipients to be identified
A Senate amendment would reveal all companies with turnover above $10 million that got COVID-19 wage assistance payments