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Corruption and Integrity Update | Fitzgerald Report 2.0: Key findings and recommendations

The much-awaited report by the Honourable Tony Fitzgerald AC QC and the Honourable Alan Wilson QC of the Commission of Inquiry relating to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has just been released. In our opinion, the most significant recommendation requires the Crime and Corruption Commission to seek the opinion of the Office of the […]

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Corruption and Integrity Update – Updates on the Coaldrake Report and corrupt conduct in the Queensland public sector

This month’s edition of the Corruption and Integrity Update provides an update on the implementation of the recommendations arising out of the Coaldrake Report and considers recent developments in publicly-released integrity investigations. We also recap the progress towards a federal anti-corruption commission. Coaldrake Report – Updates from the 26 July 2022 Estimates Committee Hearing At […]

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Corruption and Integrity Update | Updates from the CCC, and the release of the final report from the Coaldrake Review

This month’s edition of the Corruption and Integrity Update considers new corruption prevention resources released by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC); the CCC’s call for submissions on influencing practices in Queensland; and the CCC’s release of its investigation into allegations of disclosure of confidential information at the Integrity Commissioner. We also dive into the […]

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Corruption and Integrity Update – Parliamentary oversight of the Ombudsman and the OIC

This month’s edition of the Corruption and Integrity Update considers the recent parliamentary oversight hearings conducted by the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee (Committee) into the Queensland Ombudsman and the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), as well as setting out a high-level overview of the most recent Corruption Allegations Data Dashboard (CADD) released by […]

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Keeping your skeletons buried – maintaining legal professional privilege in the investigation process

In the investigation process, questions regarding legal professional privilege often arise, especially as it relates to reports forming part of any investigations. Recently, Gadens examined the way in which legal professional privilege can pose operational hazards for multi-disciplinary firms. This article considers legal professional privilege generally, and how it may apply in the context of […]

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Corruption and Integrity Update – Coaldrake interim report in the Queensland public sector released

With the CCC Commission of Inquiry and the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Office of the Independent Assessor ongoing, there has been a noticeable absence of public releases by the CCC and OIA of late. Notably, however, Professor Peter Coaldrake AO released his Interim Report of the Review of culture and accountability in the Queensland public […]

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Corruption and Integrity Update – OIA functions and CCC powers subject to scrutiny

The past month has seen the spotlight turned on both the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA), by way of Parliamentary Inquiry, and the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), by way of a Supreme Court challenge to its coercive powers. Inquiry into the functions of the Independent Assessor and the performance of those functions On […]

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Corruption and Integrity Update – the CCC under the spotlight

There has been a significant focus by the media on Queensland public sector integrity issues over the past month. Most notably, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced both a Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland’s anti-corruption body, the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), as well as a review into culture and accountability in the public sector. […]

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Timely reminder for companies to lodge their financial reports

Recent prosecutions and convictions obtained by the corporate regulator serve as a timely reminder for companies of the importance of lodging financial reports. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) recently prosecuted and obtained convictions against three companies for failing to lodge annual financial reports with ASIC within the specified period after the end of […]

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ASIC’s new approach to regulatory investigations: the challenges and opportunities presented by Express Investigations

Under the banner of ‘when pilots become enduring practice’, ASIC Deputy Chair Karen Chester has announced that ASIC will supplement its traditional investigations processes with ‘Express Investigations’ (EI), ASIC’s new and preferred approach to enforcement. Corporate regulatory investigations are often legally and factually complex, high-stakes and process-heavy. Mountains of documents and witness evidence are commonplace. […]

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ACCC seeks ban on unfair trading practices

On 10 December 2020 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (the ACCC) released its Perishable Agricultural Goods Inquiry Report (the Report). Purpose of the inquiry The ACCC’s inquiry into markets for the supply of perishable agricultural goods was conducted at the direction of the Commonwealth Treasurer, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP. The ACCC conducted a […]

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FSR Wrap | November 2020

As we approach the end of the year, Gadens’ FSR Team presents an update for the financial services regulatory market. This edition of FSR Wrap provides a focus on ‘business as usual’ regulations of importance to Australian financial services companies. As we look to 2021 and the introduction of a raft of legislation that has […]

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