Category: Royal Commission

Royal Commission

The Robodebt Royal Commission has exposed the depth of Canberra’s rot | The Shot

With the multitude of interlinking fuck-ups strewn among this pockmarked road – the ministerial opportunism, the abrogation of duty of care on behalf of the senior public servants, the omissions of contracted lawyers, the pay-outs and the human toll – all of it seems to have been avoidable if there were anyone along this chain of command who truly cared about the horrible consequences. The Robodebt scheme has left a permanent mark on the nation, it is etched into the memory of so many and into the legacy of those who unleashed it, and it signals an urgent need for change that can no longer be ignored.

Source: The Robodebt Royal Commission has exposed the depth of Canberra’s rot | The Shot

Royal Commission

Scotty the Welfare Cop and his Robodebt Royal Commission copout

Morrison was the “ordinary guy” we saw on TV that’s why all advice wasn’t passed onto and through him and why he needed to appoint himself to all those ministries in secret

Despite Scott Morrison making a solid effort to represent himself as an innocent bystander in the Robodebt RC, his waffling and obfuscation are only convincing us all of his guilt as its engineer. Managing editor Michelle Pini reports.

Source: Scotty the Welfare Cop and his Robodebt Royal Commission copout

Royal Commission

Scott Morrison declares he is a fully qualified lawyer and barrister at the Robodebt Royal CommissionKangaroo Court of Australia

At one point Commissioner Catherine Holmes asks Morrison: What do you understand was the legal basis requiring someone who had not been on Government benefits for 6 months, 3 years or longer to confirm or deny ATO data which said they had a debt? 

Morrison replied by talking like he was a lawyer or a barrister and started quoting the relevant legislation, but he was wrong and Commissioner Catherine Holmes SC carved Scott Morrison up and put him in his place.

Source: Scott Morrison declares he is a fully qualified lawyer and barrister at the Robodebt Royal CommissionKangaroo Court of Australia

Royal Commission

‘Big four’ accounting firms should face banking royal commission to prove independence, former ASIC investigator says – Business – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A profile shot of a smiling Glen Unicomb

I’d suggest it’s time Public Trustees were put under the microscope and it’s time for a change (ODT)

A former forensic investigator at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has called for the major accounting firms hired to audit and approve sensitive company reports to be brought before the financial services royal commission to prove their independence.
Key points:

A former ASIC investigator says the accounting firms’ business model presents a conflict of interest
This comes from the firms’ expansion into advisory and consultancy work, not just auditing
A report to the UK House of Commons described a “cosy relationship” between consulting firms and collapsed construction group Carillion

via ‘Big four’ accounting firms should face banking royal commission to prove independence, former ASIC investigator says – Business – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Royal Commission

Insurance the next financial sector hoping to weather the banking royal commission storm – Business – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Cars and homes submerged in floodwaters in Dungog, NSW.

When the family’s tractor dealership flooded, they moved tractors they were repairing to higher ground, but as the waters continued to rise, the machines were submerged anyway.

“The result ended up that the insurance company didn’t want to come to the party because we moved them off the premises,” Mr Irwin told the ABC.

What Mr Irwin thought was common sense cost him thousands in lost insurance payouts and left him baffled and financially strained.

via Insurance the next financial sector hoping to weather the banking royal commission storm – Business – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Royal Commission, Uncategorized

Banking royal commission: Industry super funds sail through inquiry as spotlight roasts NAB, retail funds – Analysis & Opinion – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Commissioner Kenneth Hayne points a finger at NAB counsel Neil Young QC during a hearing on August 8, 2017.

The royal commission asked for CBUS documents, examined them, and decided to leave it there.

For people wanting a searing examination of industry funds, which have long had better financial returns to customers than the for-profit funds, the disappointment got worse.

Australian Super, Australia’s biggest fund, sailed through its examination.

The level of discussion, debate and analysis the $140 billion fund put into preparing for a $2 million investment in a news website, The New Daily, was both exhaustive and debated at board level.

After all that, it was revealed that the investment was less than the cost of mailing a letter to every member, once.

Further, the fund’s chief executive Ian Silk was examined about the political nature of a series of TV advertisements called “Fox in the henhouse” about how retail funds are a bad deal for consumers.

The question was how it was in members’ best interests to spend the money.

Mr Silk defended the campaign as a way to safeguard the broader system of industry funds.

Best interests? Commissioner Kenneth Hayne will make up his own mind.

But forget 30 seconds of pictures of foxes, emotive music and a scary voiceover about retail funds. We just sat through four days of evidence about them that was truly terrifying.

Banking royal commission: Industry super funds sail through inquiry as spotlight roasts NAB, retail funds – Analysis & Opinion – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Royal Commission

Banking royal commission: The ‘super scam’ that is unfolding in plain sight

While News Corp boosts Sudanese “crime gangs” that don’t exist. Lebanese mafia, and bikies,. While it focuses on dole bludgers and pilfering of petty cash it ignores the systematic damage and criminal theft done to all of us by what they revere as our fundamental and respected institutions that reflect the foundation of how a neoliberal society should operate. We have become the 51rst state of America and out of sync with the values of the rest of the world. We are drowning but not even waving (ODT)

The biggest financial swindle in Australian history was not masterminded by a smooth-talking shyster in silk tie and fancy loafers.

It didn’t involve complex money shifting to the Bahamas, the establishment of sham companies or falsified documents.

The biggest financial scam ever perpetrated against ordinary Australians unfolded – and continues to unfold – in plain sight.

The government knows it’s happening. Regulators know it’s happening. The people responsible for safeguarding the money being effectively stolen know it’s happening.

And no one is doing anything significant to stop it.

via Banking royal commission: The ‘super scam’ that is unfolding in plain sight

Royal Commission

‘I’m happy proving everyone wrong’: Dylan Voller bail relaxed for good behaviour | NITV

Dylan Voller, who’s been at the centre of the Northern Territory Royal Commission investigating mistreatment of youth at Darwin’s Don Dale Youth Detention Centre, today appeared in the NT Supreme Court via video link from Alice Springs. Voller’s supervision conditions were changed to allow him to occasionally spend the night at his brother’s house in Alice Springs while transitioning out of BushMob. “I’ve been really looking forward and am re-integrating back into the community like a normal person.”

Source: ‘I’m happy proving everyone wrong’: Dylan Voller bail relaxed for good behaviour | NITV

Royal Commission

Don Dale was ‘spiralling out of control’ | NITV

A former Don Dale Youth Detention Centre guard says the security climate was “spiralling out of control” in the lead up to an incident where boys were tear-gassed. Ex Youth Justice Officer Leonard De Souza told the Northern Territory juvenile justice royal commission that Don Dale was struggling with overcrowding, increased lock-downs, dismal training and staff shortages. He said new guards only received three days of training in assault responses and never learnt skills in suicide prevention, cultural awareness or dealing with emergency situations.

Source: Don Dale was ‘spiralling out of control’ | NITV

Royal Commission

NT guard describes ‘complete chaos’, and inmate treated ‘like a dog’ | NITV

A former Northern Territory youth prison guard who was on duty when some boys were tear gassed at a youth detention centre has told an inquiry he was used as a scapegoat. Ben Kelleher worked at Darwin’s Don Dale facility in 2014 when boys were shackled, spit hooded and tear gassed after one escaped from solitary confinement and began trashing an exercise yard. The youth had been held in isolation for 17 days straight, for up to 23 hours per day, and had complained of being treated “like a dog”, the royal commission was told.

Source: NT guard describes ‘complete chaos’, and inmate treated ‘like a dog’ | NITV

Royal Commission

Don Dale: Snapchat video shows guard asking detainees for oral sex, to eat faeces

A former Northern Territory youth prison guard has admitted to jokingly asking detainees to perform oral sex on him, urging a child to eat faeces and filming a boy urinating.

Source: Don Dale: Snapchat video shows guard asking detainees for oral sex, to eat faeces

Royal Commission

Child sex abuse royal commission: I went to Catholic school, but I was one of the lucky ones – RN – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Sexual abuse in Australia’s Catholic schools didn’t come from nowhere. It took hold in systems where violence was not just condoned, but encouraged.

Source: Child sex abuse royal commission: I went to Catholic school, but I was one of the lucky ones – RN – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Royal Commission

Parole Board Rejected Offer To Rehabilitate Teen At Centre Of NT Royal Commission – BuzzFeed News

Exclusive: Dylan Voller is being “made an example of”, claims an organisation that works with disadvantaged young people.

Source: Parole Board Rejected Offer To Rehabilitate Teen At Centre Of NT Royal Commission – BuzzFeed News

Royal Commission

Dylan Voller tells NT royal commission he was starved, strip-searched in youth detention – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A key witness to the NT child protection royal commission is giving evidence today.

Source: Dylan Voller tells NT royal commission he was starved, strip-searched in youth detention – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Royal Commission

Cardinal George Pell ‘too ill’ to travel from Rome to Melbourne for royal commission

Cardinal George Pell’s testimony to a child abuse royal commission has been delayed until next year because he is too unwell to travel to Australia.

Source: Cardinal George Pell ‘too ill’ to travel from Rome to Melbourne for royal commission

Royal Commission

Bill Shorten’s office rejects royal commission apology for ‘unacceptable’ late-night clearing – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Bill Shorten’s office rejects an apology from the trade union royal commission for its decision to clear him of wrongdoing late on a Friday night.

Source: Bill Shorten’s office rejects royal commission apology for ‘unacceptable’ late-night clearing – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Royal Commission

Bill Shorten slams timing of trade union royal commission release

The trade union royal commission insists it meant no disrespect to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten by waiting until late on a Friday night to reveal it had effectively cleared him of wrongdoing.

Source: Bill Shorten slams timing of trade union royal commission release

Dyson Heydon, Royal Commission

VW’s ‘dirty diesel’ cover-up taints Germany and its car industry: Politics and Crime & Fraud. When fraud is a crime & not politics. Abbott’s Royal Commission.

Volkswagen has suffered a shocking loss of credibility after conspiring to violate US pollution laws and dupe customers on a systemic scale.

Source: VW’s ‘dirty diesel’ cover-up taints Germany and its car industry