Centre for Public Integrity

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