Centre for Public Integrity

Former Federal Court judge Michael Barker interviews Danielle Wood, Chair of the Productivity Commission, about the role of economists and independent institutions in democratic accountability.

Wood explains how economics shapes policymaking through trade-offs, why the Commission’s independence matters even when its advice draws political backlash (including criticism over its GST distribution report), and how undermining institutions can erode trust and economic performance.

She outlines how corruption and “grey corruption” harm growth by increasing uncertainty, diverting resources from innovation, inflating infrastructure costs, and weakening social capital.

Wood discusses the Commission’s work on AI and digital markets, arguing for updating existing laws rather than broad AI regulation, and describes the housing supply regulation inquiry examining planning, approvals, density limits, and infrastructure timing, due in March next year.

They also cover migration program design, productivity headwinds like weak investment and declining economic dynamism, and challenges attracting students—especially young women—to economics.

Show notes:

00:00 Introduction & Welcome

02:41 Becoming an Economist

05:07 Influence of Economists

06:23 Economics & Politics

10:13 Corruption & Public Accountability

16:33 Public Trust & Cynicism

20:21 AI & Technology

23:18 Housing Supply Inquiry

26:09 History of the Productivity Commission

29:32 Public Service & Democratic Process

31:36 Grattan Institute & Think Tanks

33:55 Productivity Challenges & Immigration

41:09 Closing & Future of Economics

Host Michael Barker interviews Meg Webb MLC, independent member for Nelson in Tasmania’s Legislative Council, about her path from 20 years in community services and social policy advocacy into parliament after winning the open Nelson seat in 2019 and being re-elected in 2025. Webb discusses why Tasmania has strong independent representation, especially in the 200-year-old upper house, citing single-member electorates, rolling elections separate from lower house contests, and strict spending caps, alongside Hare-Clark proportional representation in the lower house. She outlines her campaign priorities—integrity, governance, gender equity, environment, and poker machine reform—and details work on integrity architecture including ministerial diary disclosure, right-to-information reform, and an exposure-draft Political Lobbying Integrity and Transparency Bill. Webb also describes creating Parliamentary Friends of Public Integrity to build cross-parliament culture and networks, and warns of growing poker-machine losses and ineffective harm-minimisation measures.

00:00 Introduction

01:09 Meg's Path into Politics

09:26 Tasmania's Independent-Friendly Upper House

16:08 Party Influence, Donations & Public Funding

19:33 Relational Influence & Gray Corruption Risks

22:36 Parliamentary Friends of Public Integrity

28:18 Ministerial Diary Disclosure

33:17 Lobbying Reform Bill

38:07 The Role of the Media

40:27 Right to Information Reform

44:34 What's Next & Poker Machine Reform

48:35 Closing

Episode Summary:

Michael Barker, former Federal Court judge and director of the Centre for Public Integrity, sits down with Kylie Kilgour — Acting Commissioner of Australia's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) — for a wide-ranging conversation about the country's newest federal integrity body.

They explore the history of anti-corruption commissions across Australia's states and territories, and how the NACC came to be established in 2023. Kylie breaks down the legal definition of corrupt conduct under the NACC Act — from dishonest performance of duties to abuse of public office — and explains how the Commission decides which referrals to investigate.

The conversation turns to the landmark Robodebt investigation (Operation Myrtleford), where Kylie shares the findings against two officials and explains the reasoning behind conducting hearings in private. She also discusses Operation Pelican — the NACC's first prosecution — involving a bribery attempt over the Western Sydney Airport car park tender.

Kylie rounds out the episode with the Commission's performance to date: nearly 8,000 referrals received, 70 investigations completed, and a growing corruption prevention and education function. She also covers oversight mechanisms including the Inspector and the Parliamentary Joint Committee, which has a public inquiry currently underway.

Key topics: Anti-corruption law · Robodebt · Public sector integrity · NACC investigations · Australian democracy

Will Partlett speaks with Nick Feik, former editor of The Monthly, about the role investigative journalism plays in Australia’s integrity puzzle.

They discuss:

• Why difficult stories often need sustained public attention before they produce reform
• How reporting on Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre and Robodebt exposed deeper institutional failures
• Why public inquiries, parliamentary pressure and civil society all matter to accountability

The episode also examines the challenges facing investigative journalists, including defamation law, short media cycles and governments’ ability to delay or manage demands for reform.

Full show notes:

00:00 Intro

02:40 Media economics and scarcity

04:59 The accountability cycle explained

06:40 Tasmania’s abuse investigation

11:12 Power and reform networks

12:14 Working with crossbenchers

13:45 The limits of royal commissions

19:05 Defamation and its chilling effect

23:02 Robodebt as a case study

26:59 The NACC and public accountability

28:34 Why details take time

29:27 Closing takeaways

Will Partlett speaks with John McKechnie, former Western Australian Director of Public Prosecutions, Supreme Court judge and Corruption and Crime Commissioner, about the limits of “integrity” as an institutional slogan. McKechnie reflects on WA Inc, the creation of independent prosecution and anti-corruption bodies, and why corruption commissions must do more than promote good culture. They must investigate misconduct, expose failures and help ensure public power is exercised for public purposes.

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:06 Why Law School

02:24 Early Practice and Crown Move

04:12 Creating the DPP

06:09 WA Inc Taskforce Years

07:42 Epiphany to the Bench

09:37 Judge vs Prosecutor Mindset

11:18 Taking the CCC Job

13:19 CCC Powers and Jurisdiction

14:46 Prosecutions and Proof Limits

19:07 What Integrity Really Means

28:06 Velvet Glove Iron Fist

30:36 Wrap Up and Thanks

What does it take for an integrity watchdog to be genuinely independent? In this episode, Deborah Glass — former Victorian Ombudsman and honorary fellow at Melbourne Law School — explains why the answer goes well beyond personal integrity. She discusses the real pressures created by executive-controlled appointments, funding battles and weak oversight, and sets out what stronger institutional design could look like. This is a conversation about why the fine print of integrity reform matters, and why democratic accountability depends on getting it right.

In this special edition podcast, former federal court judge The Hon Michael Barker KC speaks with Professor Gabrielle Appleby, Research Director at the Centre for Public Integrity and public law expert at UNSW Law & Justice, about how Australia’s Constitution distributes the power over money. They delve into the powers of the Senate, the significance of responsible government, and the historical compromises that shaped Australia’s constitutional framework, and how that played out in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975. This is a special episode for the upcoming 2026 National School's Constitutional Convention, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of Australia's political and legal landscape.

Show notes:

00:00 Introduction to the Center for Public Integrity

00:20 Overview of the National School's Constitutional Convention

01:05 Introducing Professor Gabriel Applebey

01:31 Understanding Section 53 of the Commonwealth Constitution

02:11 Historical Context and Comparisons

03:21 The Role and Powers of the Senate

05:02 The 1975 Constitutional Crisis

08:52 Modern Implications and Reflections

14:02 The Framers' Intent and Modern Politics

28:22 The 1975 Constitutional Crisis

34:19 Modern Implications and Future Considerations

37:21 Concluding Thoughts

In this episode of the Center for Public Integrity's podcast, the Hon Michael Barker KC, a former federal court judge, interviews Jay Weatherill AO, the 45th Premier of South Australia and recently appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

They discuss Weatherill's background, influenced by his father's trade union work and his own early immersion into politics. Weatherall recounts his journey to becoming Premier and reflects on the various facets of democracy, the importance of integrity in governance, and the role of civil society.

He shares his views on freedom of information reforms, proactive disclosure, the need for participatory democracy, and the challenges of balancing transparency with effective policy-making. Weatherall also touches on his future role as High Commissioner and the significance of democratic dialogue on the international stage.

Show notes:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

00:58 Jay Weatherall's Early Political Influences

02:58 Lessons from Jay's Father

06:17 Jay's Path to Politics and Law

09:07 Entering Parliament and Early Experiences

14:30 Integrity and Ethics in Government

28:17 The Role of State Government in Democracy

29:35 Historical Insights on Democracy

31:25 Unionism and Representation

35:06 FOI and Government Transparency

44:04 Challenges in Policy Making

47:39 The Importance of Civil Society

51:01 Future Role in Diplomacy

In this podcast episode from the Centre for Public Integrity, former federal court judge the Hon Michael Barker KC interviews Professor Megan Davis AC, one of Australia's leading constitutional law academics. Davis discusses her journey from law school to her significant contributions at the United Nations and her current role at the University of New South Wales.

The conversation delves into Davis's work on the Uluru Statement, her views on constitutional recognition for First Nations people, and her skepticism and optimism about future reforms. The discussion also touches on various integrity issues within Australian politics, the discrepancies in indigenous representation, and the broader implications of these issues on democracy and self-determination.

In this episode of the Centre for Public Integrity's podcast, host the Hon Michael Barker KC interviews Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of the ACT. The discussion explores the unique governmental structure of the ACT, combining state and municipal responsibilities, and the impacts of this hybrid model. Topics include the evolution and benefits of self-government, the proportional representation electoral system, political stability, and the growing influence of independents. Barr comments on the challenges of lobbying, the importance of transparency, and recent technological concerns such as AI and deepfakes in politics. He also touches on his own political journey, the significance of civics education, and ongoing efforts to ensure integrity in political financing and lobbying.