A cold winter for the A Team – Court freezes funds and assets
Between 31 May 2022 and 7 June 2022, ASIC obtained three freezing orders against the Mr Hopkins and his companies. In doing so, the Federal Court of Australia ordered: 1) the Defendants’ assets be frozen; 2) the disclosure of existing assets to the Court; 3) the appointment of a receiver over digital assets; and 4) […]
ReadmoreCorruption 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 […]
ReadmoreKeeping 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 […]
ReadmoreCorruption 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 […]
ReadmoreCorruption 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 […]
ReadmoreCorruption 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. […]
ReadmoreSecurity Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Act 2021
Executive Summary The recently released Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Act 2021 (Cth) (SOCI Act) has amended the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth) with a view to further managing the complex and evolving national security risks of sabotage, espionage and coercion posed by foreign involvement in Australia’s critical infrastructure. The amended SOCI legislation […]
ReadmoreCorruption and Integrity Update – What the Corruption Allegations Data Dashboard reveals
The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has this month updated its Corruption Allegations Data Dashboard (CADD) to reflect referral data received up to the end of the September 2021 quarter. The CADD reveals that allegations received by the CCC trended upwards throughout the course of 2021, with over 6,500 complaints having been received by September […]
Readmore
