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https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-the-challenge-of-grey-corruption-and-creating-a-culture-of-integrity-187375>
"We talk a lot about chasing down corrupt behaviour and holding wrongdoers to
account. As we should. This is what the debate about a national integrity
commission has been all about.
But let’s also think about another aspect of this issue – the need for
politicians to have better values and respect for standards in the first place.
Partly, this involves clear deterrence. But it also goes to the more
challenging issues of political culture and recruitment.
Anyone reading Wednesday’s news from Victoria and NSW would have no trouble
understanding the distrust and disgust many ordinary people feel towards the
political class.
In Victoria an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and Ombudsman
joint inquiry was scathing about the behaviour within the faction-ridden ALP.
One sentence went to the heart of things: “Operation Watts found a political
culture, condoned or even actively encouraged by senior figures, of ends
justifying means and of bending and breaking rules”.
Premier Dan Andrews said he took responsibility and he apologised. “The key
point is to drive both cultural and practical change and the best way to do
that is to deliver on each and every one of the recommendations,” the premier
said.
Yes, all good. But those with a passing acquaintance with the history of the
Victorian ALP will know that “ends justifying means” has been the religion of
its players for many decades. Will things permanently change?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
