Albanese Government Rocked by Secrecy Scandal: Senator Pocock Leads Revolt Against ‘One of the Most Secretive Governments in 30 Years’
- Sensational Senate revolt sees Coalition, Greens, and crossbenchers unite against Labor’s secrecy
- Independent senator David Pocock accuses Albanese government of being ‘more secretive than the Morrison government’
- Government refuses to release report on ‘jobs for mates’ scandal, sparking furious backlash from opposition
The Albanese government is facing a growing crisis over its handling of transparency and accountability, with independent senator David Pocock leading a revolt against the government’s secrecy.
In a scathing attack, Senator Pocock accused the government of being ‘one of the most secretive governments in the last 30 years’, citing its refusal to release a report on the ‘jobs for mates’ scandal. The report, commissioned by the government in 2023, has been sat on ever since, with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher claiming it is still being worked on.
But Senator Pocock is not buying it, saying the government’s secrecy is ‘a test of strength between the Senate and the executive’. He led a spectacular revolt in the Senate on Wednesday, uniting the Coalition, Greens, and other crossbenchers in a bid to force the government to release the report.
The government’s response has been furious, with Environment Minister Murray Watt lashing Senator Pocock for ‘a dummy spit’. But the senator remains undeterred, saying the government’s secrecy is ‘a concerning feature of the Albanese government’.
The Centre for Public Integrity has also weighed in, releasing a scathing report card on the government’s integrity. The report accuses the government of ‘leaning into a culture of secrecy’, highlighting the flawed Freedom of Information Bill and the government’s failure to rein in the power of lobbyists.
The opposition has seized on the report, with Liberal frontbencher James Paterson saying the government’s response is ‘more like that of a petty authoritarian government than a democratic one’. The government’s penchant for secrecy has also been highlighted by observers, who believe Anthony Albanese is the main driver of limiting information.
The saga has sparked a wider debate about the government’s accountability and transparency, with many calling for the release of the report and greater scrutiny of the government’s actions. As one commentator noted, ‘the ball’s in the government’s court’.
In a bizarre twist, the government has threatened to retaliate against the opposition, with Leader of the House Tony Burke warning that Coalition lower house members may be stripped of their positions as deputy chairs on various committees. But the opposition remains unfazed, saying the government’s tactics are ‘unbecoming’.
The saga is set to continue, with the opposition vowing to keep pushing for the release of the report and greater transparency from the government. As Senator Pocock said, ‘the government needs to reset course and honour its commitments to transparency and accountability’.