Ken S3d ago

The balancing act of investigations - for the sake of public administration/public policy case study, and for the sake of justice - has always been a difficult act.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-19/why-robodebt-bureaucrats-have-evaded-prosecution/106468572

… frankly, I’d say the ‘corrupt’ public servants are just as much victims as they are offenders.
Australia’s public servants work in a government system where the ‘separation’ between public service and parliament is very blurred.
Politicians are able to make veiled threats to pressure public servants into action.

The other thing that needs to be kept in mind is that ‘corruption’ is a very broad term that covers all actions and behaviours which are ‘not within the expectations of the public service’.
So, the big question is ‘What are a forms of corruption that is also criminal?’
An obvious line of questioning would be ‘What political/material gain or benefit did the offenders receive?’

#AusPol #AusLaw #Robodebt

The 'catch-22' protecting Robodebt bureaucrats from criminal prosecution

Damning testimony will not land former Robodebt bureaucrats inside a courtroom, because the law empowering Australia's corruption watchdog to penetrate the right to silence is built with a shield.

Show threadKen S

So, what does this mean?

It means when you go to the next election, you need to carefully consider who you vote for, and why.

If Politicians feel they are rewarded an election win despite the corruption they are responsible for … they are going to do it again.

If we vote in Politicians that don’t think the ‘separation of powers’ between them and the public service doesn’t need to be fixed, … they are going to do it again.

The anti-corruption commission did as much as they could with the evidence they were able to obtain.
… we need to come to terms with that. Not all offences should lead to prosecution/incarceration if there is insufficient to prove ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

So we not have to ‘consider ‘How should politicians/political parties involved take responsibility?’
#AusPol #AusLaw

Mar 18 at 9:00pmWeb