Former Attorney General Christian Porter has today resigned from Parliament. As a senior government member, he sought to avoid accountability and transparency and, thanks to you and the thousands who signed our petition and campaigned, paid the ultimate price.
Donate now (click here) to keep the pressure on our politicians by creating new campaigns for accountability in the lead up to the next election and beyond. Our key demands include:
* A gold standard federal 'ICAC' - an anti-corruption and integrity commission with full powers of referral and investigation
* stronger 'real time' donation disclosure laws and limits, plus a public lobbying and meetings register so we know who is trying to buy our democracy
* 'truth in advertising' laws and stronger more effective 'freedom of information' laws to hold our politicians to account for what they say and do.
Australian Politics Watchdog believes that Australians have a right to demand that our leaders and parliamentarians be of the highest integrity, and must be fully accountable for their actions and behaviour, in a system with strong anti-corruption and transparency measures. We must counter the threats to democracy, we have seen looming in the United States, and around the world.
In the case of Christian Porter, we have made progress. But there is still much more to do... help us take the next step in our fight for honesty and integrity in Australian politics!
Please donate what you can today (CLICK HERE).
A big thank you to you and everyone who signed Australian Politics Watchdog first petition and helped to hold him ultimately to account.
Mr Porter's resignation from Parliament brings to an end this campaign by Australian Politics Watchdog for full accountability for someone who held the position of Australia's first Law Officer, Attorney General, and was touted as a serious contender for future Prime Minister.
As is his right, Mr Porter maintained his innocence against the most serious accusation against him, that of committing rape against a fellow debating team member as a 17 year old (and Australian Politics Watchdog does not suggest otherwise).
However given a criminal trial was no longer an option, after the sad death by suicide of the alleged victim, and given a range of other allegations of a long pattern of misogyny and sexism, as well as allegations of lying about the nature of his relationship with the alleged victim (based on evidence by the victims friends including Macquarie Bank executive James Hooke), it was vital for a public inquiry to be held to restore faith in government and parliament.
Failing a public inquiry, the only other option was for the former Minister to leave parliament.
Australian Politics Watchdog believes that Australians have a right to demand that our leaders and parliamentarians be of the highest integrity, and must be fully accountable for their actions and behaviour, in a system with strong anti-corruption and transparency measures.
In this instance, we have made progress. But there is still much more to do...
click here and donate now to take the next step in the fight for our democracy!