Articles for Senate Estimates

Cranbrook School accused of refusing to hand over child safety review to federal education department
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Cranbrook School accused of refusing to hand over child safety review to federal education department

ABC  

The federal education department has revealed Sydney's prestigious Cranbrook School is refusing to hand over a review into its handling of child safety and other issues, claiming legal professional privilege over the document, as the government's investigation into the institution blows out to almost eight months. Cranbrook refuses to hand over report Days after the ABC stories aired, the school …

Education Investigation School Review Department Federal Federal Funding
NAAJA deputy chair Colleen Rosas defends Aboriginal legal service amid financial audits, instability
5 months, 3 weeks ago

NAAJA deputy chair Colleen Rosas defends Aboriginal legal service amid financial audits, instability

ABC  

In short: The deputy chair of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has defended the organisation's ability to provide legal services amid ongoing internal instability. The deputy chair of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has defended the organisation's ability to provide legal services amid ongoing internal instability. Former NAAJA chairperson and current deputy chair Colleen Rosas said NAAJA was …

Justice Legal Board Legal Services Service Federal Deputy
Disciplinary action taken against 10 students since pro-Palestine encampment began, ANU vice-chancellor tells Senate estimates
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Disciplinary action taken against 10 students since pro-Palestine encampment began, ANU vice-chancellor tells Senate estimates

ABC  

In short: The Australian National University has launched disciplinary action against 10 students since a pro-Palestinian protest began on campus. During Senate estimates hearings on Thursday night, ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell said that some incidents had been referred to police and two students had been "excluded" from campus, which the ABC has confirmed to mean expelled. Professor Bell said the …

Students University Disciplinary Disciplinary Action Protest Bell Senate Estimates
Reef Authority never had funding to rebuild Reef HQ beyond refurbishment despite announcement
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Reef Authority never had funding to rebuild Reef HQ beyond refurbishment despite announcement

ABC  

In short: Reef HQ is billed as the world's largest living coral reef exhibit and is the national centre for reef education. Senate Estimates has heard the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority never had the funding to demolish and rebuild the aquarium when it announced plans to do so. "We saw about 110,000 people come to Reef HQ every …

Funding Project Million Great Thomas Mr Thomas Barrier
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles tries again to deport offenders with Australian ties, as pressure mounts on his job
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles tries again to deport offenders with Australian ties, as pressure mounts on his job

ABC  

In short: Immigration Minister Andrew Giles is reviewing the cases of up to 30 non-citizens deemed of poor character, whose deportations were blocked by a tribunal because they had significant ties to Australia Immigration Minister Andrew Giles is reviewing the cases of up to 30 non-citizens deemed of poor character, whose deportations were blocked by a tribunal because they had …

Immigration Australia Cases Direction Home Affairs Senate Tribunal
Federal government to investigate millions of dollars given to oil and gas companies under research and development scheme
10 months ago

Federal government to investigate millions of dollars given to oil and gas companies under research and development scheme

ABC  

In short: Oil and gas companies may have been accessing taxpayer-funded money for fracking through a research and development scheme. The federal government says it will investigate whether millions of dollars of public funds that have been handed to oil and gas companies through a scheme that explicitly excludes fossil fuel exploration are "valid and legal". Oil and gas company …

Energy Exploration Empire Research Development Oil Money
Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz political masterplan before meeting The Project's Lisa Wilkinson
1 year, 6 months ago

Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz political masterplan before meeting The Project's Lisa Wilkinson

Daily Mail  

Brittany Higgins and partner David Sharaz had plotted out how to maximise the political impact of her bombshell rape allegations long before they first met Lisa Wilkinson, new leaks have revealed. Brittany Higgins and partner David Sharaz had plotted out how to maximise the political impact of her bombshell rape allegations The pair had a firm timeline in place long …

Labor Political Allegations Senate Project Going Told
Lack of detail stopped Australian Federal Police initially investigating PwC breach
1 year, 6 months ago

Lack of detail stopped Australian Federal Police initially investigating PwC breach

ABC  

The Australian Taxation Office raised concerns about a confidentiality breach at PwC to Australian Federal Police in March 2018, but a lack of detail meant no investigation was launched. Key points: Police last week launched an investigation into a former PwC executive over the use of confidential information The ATO commissioner has outlined efforts his team made to try investigate …

Investigation Tax Information Commonwealth Treasury Laws Jordan
Parliament House takes on a 'fist fight at the chess club' energy, as PwC tax scandal and Voice debate heat up
1 year, 6 months ago

Parliament House takes on a 'fist fight at the chess club' energy, as PwC tax scandal and Voice debate heat up

ABC  

Senate Estimates are for nerds. So, when Senate Estimates this week turned its basilisk stare upon the trembling, corpulent, loose-sphinctered form of PwC Australia, there was a definite "fist fight in the chess club" energy. Consider, also, that this is a firm that responded to COVID in 2020 by asking its employees to take a voluntary pay cut, and letting …

India Labor Australia Voice Senate Firm Pwc
Questions raised over millions in federal budget funding for charity with no office or staff
2 years, 8 months ago

Questions raised over millions in federal budget funding for charity with no office or staff

ABC  

Questions are being raised about why a foundation which appears to have no staff or office has had $18 million set aside for it by the federal government. Key points: Australian Future Leaders Program is set to receive $18m over five years and an extra $4m a year after that The Prime Minister's department says the organisation has no office …

Future Office Funding Foundation Pmc Reid Australian
Government dumps plan to allow domestic violence victims to withdraw superannuation
3 years, 9 months ago

Government dumps plan to allow domestic violence victims to withdraw superannuation

ABC  

A controversial plan to allow domestic violence survivors fleeing abusive relationships to access thousands of dollars from their superannuation accounts is no longer federal government policy. Key points: Critics of the proposal said abuse victims should not have to fund their escapes from dangerous situations Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume said the plan would be dropped if their were no …

Women Violence Domestic Violence Senate Estimates Superannuation
Federal Government handed almost $1m in contracts to controversial aged care executive Gary Barnier
4 years, 1 month ago

Federal Government handed almost $1m in contracts to controversial aged care executive Gary Barnier

ABC  

The Federal Government handed almost $1 million in contracts to a controversial aged care executive without contacting any other potential suppliers. Key points: Gary Barnier left Opal Aged Care after bullying allegations against him Mr Barnier rejects the allegations and an investigation made no findings against him Mr Barnier is now contracted to give advice on aged care to the …

Contracts Allegations Care Company Help Department Aged
Australia Post CEO stands aside as company faces investigation after executives given $3k Cartier watches for securing deal with banks
4 years, 2 months ago

Australia Post CEO stands aside as company faces investigation after executives given $3k Cartier watches for securing deal with banks

ABC  

The chief executive of Australia Post is standing aside from her role after four senior employees were given $3,000 Cartier watches as a "thank you" for working to secure a lucrative deal with three of the major banks in 2018. Key points: The Communications Minister has ordered an investigation into the gift of the watches The Communications Minister has ordered …

Australia Investigation Company Watches Senate Million Chief