Opinion

Rorts, favouritism, self-interest and systemic problems

John Warhurst
Updated July 2 2021 - 2:56am, first published February 27 2020 - 4:00am

Rorts, favouritism and political self-interest are long-standing and often blatant in Australian politics, as they are in many other political systems. We hardly bat an eyelid over some of them because they are so common. The question is not whether they exist but whether abuses of the system are more prevalent under some governments than others. When challenged, those holding office vary their defence between saying that the system is perfectly fair and democratic and saying that, anyway, the other mob are just as bad when they hold office. Broadly speaking that's how the debate ebbed and flowed during the sports rorts affair which ultimately cost Bridget McKenzie her job. Labor had its own notorious sports rorts affair under the guise of Ros Kelly's whiteboard.

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John Warhurst

John Warhurst

Canberra Times columnist

John Warhurst is an emeritus professor of political science at the Australian National University and a regular columnist for The Canberra Times.

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