Governance
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7th September, 2013 The Labor government stumbled from scandal to scandal. Hundreds of election promises were dishonoured. The Party was consistently divided over leadership. Driven by the external power of the Trade Unions and their political deals with the Greens and Independents, the government was never able to make sound policy decisions or govern wisely. Labor left office widely regarded as the worst government in Australian history, leaving behind massive debt and a legacy of waste and mismanagement. |
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30th May, 2013 World Competitveness Yearbook rates Australia as 43 in the world in terms of efficiency of "government decisions" and Australia has slumped from 9th to 29th since Labor came to office on an efficient "institutional framework" of government |
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18th May, 2013 From November 2007 to April 2013 Labor has introduced 22,257 regulations and repealed 111 (The Australian) |
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12th February, 2013 Massive increases in court filing fees allegedly to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms have been undermined by 50% increase in ADR fees (Senate Estimates) |
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30th January, 2013 Julia Gillard announces the election will be held on 14 September 2013 beginning a 255 day campaign period - by far the longest ever |
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19th October, 2012 The Attorney-General's Department has purchased 118 new shredding machines costing $5,000 each. ASIO shredders only cost $353 each (Senate Estimates) |
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19th October, 2012 Gillard Government confirms that 17 Attorney General's lawyers plus a senior and a junior counsel were involved in the Peter Slipper case at a cost of $730,000 to the Commonwealth. The Government settled the case with a $50,000 pay out to James Ashby (Senate Estimates) |
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27th September, 2012 Reserve Bank pays $550,000 to three designers for new bank notes including $300,000 to Swiss designer whose ideas were rejected (The Australian) |
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26th September, 2012 Penny Wong concedes the Gillard Government will shed 3,000 public service jobs this year. The CPSU says the 4% efficiency dividend has cost 4,200 jobs (The Australian) |
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13th August, 2012 The Gillard Government is employing 1600 staff on media, communications, marketing and public affairs, costing $150 million per year |
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15th June, 2012 The Audit Commission's Report into Queensland's financial situation reveals that state debt is expected to reach $92 billion by 2015-16 (double the state's revenue for the year). The budget deficit would be $19.7 billion by 2015-16 if Labor's programs remained in place. 10% of total state revenue would be required to pay the interest bill on the debt (The Australian) |
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9th April, 2012 Federal Government has spent $10 million on new shredding machines over the past three years (SMH FOI report) |
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23rd March, 2012 Despite election promises in 2007 to reduce red tape and to adopt a "one in / one out" policy, Labor has introduced 18,089 new regulations and repealed 86 |
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22nd March, 2012 Auditor-General says 11 Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries have approved 33 funding grants to their own electorates in breach of the Government's own guidelines. Minister Albanese approved more than $31 million in grants to his electorate in breach of the guidelines (The Australian) |
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20th March, 2012 Labor Government has spent $486 million a year on consultants every year since its election. Biggest spender was Department of Defence ($299 million) and Health ($208 million). Total expenditure on consultancies since 2008 is $2.17 billion (Canberra Times) |
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16th February, 2012 Prime Minister bans Ministers from taking notes of Cabinet meetings because of regular leaks 17/10/2011 (reported in The Australian) |
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25th January, 2012 Anthony Albanese denies that the Government had ever actually broken any promises. Earlier he claimed the Government had never made a "conscious decision" to break a promise (Press Club) |
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23rd January, 2012 Only 60 small businesses have received promised compensation for late payment of Government accounts despite 55000 accounts being paid late (Telegraph) |
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27th December, 2011 Government spends $441 million in 2010-11 on outside independent advice, down from $485 million in 2009-10. Labor has changed definitions of consultancies so that hundreds of millions of consultancies are now classified as general contracts (The Australian) |
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18th October, 2011 The Gillard Government paid more than $100,000 to review whether the sale of two Parliament House billiard tables for $6,000 was value for money |
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19th September, 2011 Julia Gillard makes ten changes to her announced Ministry before it is even sworn in Julia Gillard's new Cabinet is made up entirely of people who live in capital cities |
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17th July, 2011 Federal Labor Government launches $25 million taxpayer funded advertising campaign to sell its carbon tax including $12 million on television advertisements |
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28th June, 2011 The Attorney General's Department spends $542,190 on a roof for their Canberra office BBQ (The Australian) |
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23rd May, 2011 Tim Mathieson is assigned a specialist adviser to assist in his duties as partner to the Prime Minister (Senate Estimates) |
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16th May, 2011 Gillard Government gives Trade Unions $10 million to train new leaders following a similar decision by the Rudd Government in 2010-11. Unions contributed $20 million to Labor's 2007 election campaign (Daily Telegraph) |
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10th May, 2011 BUDGET 2011-12 • The federal bureaucracy has grown by more than 20,000 public servants since the election of the Labor Government |
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25th February, 2011 Greens Deputy Leader Senator C Milne says the carbon tax "is happening because we (The Greens) have shared power (with Labor) in Australia". Leader Bob Brown says he is "very happy" (Herald Sun) |
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23rd February, 2011 Chief Scientist, Prof Penny Sackett who quit half way through her five year term says she had never met Prime Minister Gillard, was not included in the 100 plus Australian delegation to the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, and had not been asked for advice on emissions targets (Senate Estimates) |
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17th December, 2010 Wikileaks reports Senator Farrell told U. S. Embassy that Julia Gillard was seeking the Prime Ministership a year before the coup (The Australian) |
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9th December, 2010 Wikilieaks cable exposure reveals Labor power broker Senator Mark Arbib told US diplomats that Kevin Rudd would be deposed as Prime Minister - but did not tell Kevin Rudd |
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8th November, 2010 Graham Richardson says he has phoned every Labor member for tell them Julia Gillard has failed to set out any agenda since becoming PM. Doug Cameron saus being Labor caucus "seems to be like having a political labotomy... actually your brain is just ripped apart, you can't think about things, you're not allowed to talk about things and really, you know, we don't want zombie politicians" |
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8th November, 2010 Staff members in Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet have increased by more than 40% under Labor |
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1st November, 2010 Debt guarantees by the Federal Government introduced during the global economic turndown now exceed $1 trillion (Financial Review) |
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28th October, 2010 The Government admits spending $700,000 on market research on its mining super tax as part of its $10 million pre-election advertising blitz (The Australian) |
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20th October, 2010 Labor Government spent more than $20 million on advertising during the weeks before the Federal Election. $5 million was spent promoting the NBN that was not even built, $7.2 million was spent on advertising the mining tax, and $9.3 million was spent on changes to health funding not scheduled to commence until 2014 (The Age) |
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19th October, 2010 Government pays out $131,000 for 45 chairs ($2,911 each) for its new situation room in Parliament House (Daily Telegraph) |
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19th September, 2010 Julia Gillard makes ten changes to the ministry she announced before it was sworn in - three days later |
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7th July, 2010 John Faulkner becomes the second Minister to announce his resignation from the Ministry since appointment of Julia Gillard as PM. Lindsay Tanner and John Faulkner considered to be two of the few competent Ministers in the Labor Government. |
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24th June, 2010 Kevin Rudd deposed as Prime Minister and replaced by Ms Julia Gillard Well known critic of Julia Gillard, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner announces his resignation from Parliament at the next election |
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9th June, 2010 The Department of Industry and Resources tells a Senate Inquiry it was not even told about the Government's mining super tax until the day before it was announced |
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4th June, 2010 The Rudd Government spent more than $550 million on legal advice in 2008-09 |
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3rd June, 2010 Environment Minister Peter Garrett is reported confirming that he first knew Labor had shelved its CPRS when he read it in the newspapers |
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13th May, 2010 After two years only 9 useable ideas have emerged from the the 1000 attendees at the 2020 summit |
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11th May, 2010 BUDGET Labor's Budget 2010-11 increases staff numbers in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet by 32% Labor's Budget 2010-11 saves $10 million by reducing number of judicial officers at Federal Magistrates Court and Family Law Court increasing delay in hearing cases Labor's Budget 2010-11 allocates $440 million extra funding for the Tax Office Labor's 2010-11 Budget provides for $10 billion increase in cost of Government expenses $126 million for government advertising including: - $30 million for climate change (even though government has deferred its CPRS for at least 3 years) - $38.5 million for Henry Review of Taxes (even though they accepted only parts of 4 out of 128 recommendations) - $29.5 million for health care package (even though government has backed down on its promise to take over hospitals from States) - $16 million for the NBN (even though the government still does not know how to build it) |
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22nd April, 2010 Labor abandons its Bill of Rights after spending $2.8 million to develop its proposal. Labor will instead spend another $12 million to educate people about their rights |
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15th April, 2010 262 ministerial staff (60%) walk out on Government in its first two years. 3 Ministers have had more than 100% turnover. Prime Minister has lost 28 staff with his office being described as a 'transit lounge'. The cost of replacing staff is almost $1 million |
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21st February, 2010 Government spends $1.3 million to realign roads around Parliament House even though there has never been an accident |
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4th February, 2010 Labor spends $10 million on legal fees for 9 people from Sydney found guilty of terrorism offences |
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4th February, 2010 Labor spends $2 million on consultancies on how to cut travel costs |
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29th December, 2009 Despite its claims of open government, the Rudd Labor Government has refused to provide information in response to 6.09% of all Freedon of Information requests compared with 4.39% in the last year of the Howard Government |
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25th November, 2009 The Rudd Labor Government has awarded $952 million in consultancy contracts in just 2 years in office, more than any other Government in Australian history |
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30th September, 2009 The Rudd Labor Government spent $165.9 million on advertising for the 2008/09 financial year, which is 30% higher than the former Government's average spend. Rudd Labor spent an additional $50 million on media monitoring |
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22nd September, 2009 It is estimated that every job created by the Rudd Government's debt funded stimulus package has cost taxpayers $1.5 million |
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6th September, 2009 The Rudd Government admits to spending $49 million last year to employ 418 media advisers |
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3rd September, 2009 The Rudd Government will spend $3.8 million on school signs that have been found to be political advertising by the Australian Electoral Commission |
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31st August, 2009 $46.6 million of the Rudd Government stimulus package has been paid to people who are dead or living overseas |
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28th August, 2009 The Rudd Government has required all schools to display taxpayer funded signs on new school buildings until March 2011, after the next Federal election |
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27th August, 2009 The Rudd Government's school building package budget has blown out by $1.5 billion |
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20th August, 2009 Tourism Australia still has no permanent boss in spite of the Rudd Government spending $40,000 to search for one |
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19th August, 2009 The Rudd Government has funded more than $1 billion on imported pink batts |
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10th August, 2009 The Rudd Government has spent $992,979 on wages and $62,586 on travelling for its taxpayer funded Labor Caucus Support and Training Unit |
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26th June, 2009 Labor abandons its grocery watch election promise after more than $13 million was wasted on failed schemes |
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26th June, 2009 The Auditor General launches an investigation into the Government's school building program after reports that billions of dollars are being squandered on projects that are over priced, not priorities and at schools earmarked for demolition or closure |
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9th June, 2009 Four of Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan's staff flew first class return to London at a cost to taxpayers of $58,915.70 Budget Paper Number One had to be pulped and reprinted on the eve of the Budget because of serious errors, costing taxpayers $61,314 The Rudd Labor Government has spent $164,000 of taxpayers money on a political website praising the Rudd Government's record debt and deficit budget The Rudd Government spent $309,106.36 on fees and travel costs for the Government's whaling envoy in just 44 days and then decided to leave him at home for the primary annual meeting on whaling issues |
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6th June, 2009 Labor's First Home Saver Accounts flop. In spite of forecasting that the total value of savings in the Rudd Labor Government's First Home Saver Accounts would be $821.4 million as at June 30 2009, the total is only $19.4 million, representing an under-performance of 96% for the value in savings and 93% for the total number of accounts |
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4th June, 2009 The Rudd Government will spend approximately $66 million on communications and advertising for the switchover from analogue to digital television, the budget has blown out by 400% |
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29th May, 2009 Up to 540,921 non Australian residents may be eligible for the Rudd Government's debt funded $900 cash splash tax bonus payment 27,252 Australians living overseas and criminals in prison have received the debt funded $900 cash splash tax bonus payment |
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28th May, 2009 The Rudd Labor Government has or will make 15,934 tax bonus payments to dead people - costing an estimated $14.3 million from the debt funded economic stimulus package - while other living people miss out entirely |
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25th May, 2009 Rudd Government spends $164,000 on a political website to promote the Budget |
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16th April, 2009 The Rudd Labor Government allows banks to charge increased fees for ATMs |
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10th March, 2009 The Rudd Labor Government approved $1 million for happiness workshops, run by a United States celebrity psychologist The Rudd Government has spent more than $500 million on consultants - more than any other Government in Australia's history. Labor has broken its election promise to cut $395 million from the use of consultants |
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25th February, 2009 Only one project funding agreement has been signed for the $300 million Local Government fund that was established in November |
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13th February, 2009 The Rudd Government forces urgent legislation through Parliament raising the Government's borrowing limit from $75 billion to $200 billion |
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3rd February, 2009 AEC figures show unions contribute $37.6 million to Labor's election campaign |
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19th December, 2008 The number of hits on the Government's Grocery Watch website falls by 95%. Choice offers to take over the scheme |
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25th November, 2008 Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard's hair dresser partner is appointed by Federal Government as a special ambassador on men's health - even though he has no health qualifications |
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30th May, 2008 Kevin Rudd has failed to issue his Ministers with Charter Letters, a key guide on portfolio responsibilities and expectations A $45,000 contract to review the Northern Land Council was given to a close friend of Ms Macklin’s senior adviser Taxpayers footed a US$1700 cancellation fee when the Prime Minister "changed his mind" about staying at the Willard Hotel where he would stay in Washington during his 18 day tour world tour The ANAO has been short funded by the Rudd Labor Government reducing its capacity to scrutinize Government expenditure Before the election, Kevin Rudd promised a new era in public service independence, open and transparent government and protection for whistleblowers, yet Mr Rudd has called in police to investigate the publication of Government advice |
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30th May, 2008 Almost $2 million has been spent on the 2020 Summit so far, costs identified include: - Over $140,000 to a former Tasmanian public servant to manage the summit; - $11,000 for a time capsule storing the comments of summit participants; - $88,230.25 for security, cleaning and general running costs for Parliament House; - Broadcasting the event on the Parliament House in-house network cost $82,831; - $60,000 for a company owned by a Rudd Government adviser to manage media at the summit - a contract was awarded without tender. |
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28th February, 2008 In its first 100 days, the Rudd Government has commissioned 47 reviews, enquiries and committees - stalling the delivery of many important Government programs and community services |
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25th February, 2008 Mr Rudd breaks his own election promise by funding three projects in Victoria worth $5.75 million, against departmental advice |
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22nd February, 2008 The Rudd Labor Government holds a sitting day with no quorum, no question time, no divisions, and grave uncertainty surrounding the constitutionality of the sitting day and whether Members are protected by Parliamentary privilege |
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19th February, 2008 Labor threatens to cut the ANAO budget, reducing scrutiny and accountability of the Rudd Government |
