List of political controversies in Australia
This is a list of major political controversies in Australia:
Pre-federation
Controversy "name" | Date | State | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rum Rebellion | 1808 | NSW | Deposition and arrest of NSW Governor William Bligh by Major George Johnston, John Macarthur |
Federal controversies
Barton government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hopetoun Blunder | 1900 | Government | Appointment of the first Prime Minister: Edmund Barton, William Lyne and John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun |
Lyons government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attempted exclusion of Egon Kisch from Australia | 1934 | United Australia Party ALP |
Egon Kisch, Joseph Lyons, Robert Menzies, Herbert Evatt and many others | The government failed to stop a member of the German Communist Party from entering Australia. |
Menzies government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Petrov Affair | 1954 | Vladimir Petrov and others |
Whitlam government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gair Affair | 1974 | ALP | Vince Gair, Gough Whitlam, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Lionel Murphy, Ron Maunsell, Magnus Cormack, Billy Snedden | ||
Morosi Affair | 1974-1977 | ALP | Jim Cairns, Junie Morosi | ||
Loans affair | 1975 | ALP | Jim Cairns, Rex Connor | ||
1975 Australian constitutional crisis | 1975 | ALP Liberal Party |
Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Sir John Kerr | Kerr dismissed the sitting government of the day | [1] |
Hawke government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combe-Ivanov affair | 1983 | ALP | David Combe, Valery Ivanov, Mick Young |
Keating government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sports rorts affair | 1994 | ALP | Ros Kelly |
Howard government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travel Rorts | 1997 | Liberal Party | John Sharp, David Jull, Peter McGauran | In September 1997, three ministers resigned or were removed from office for misuse of politicians’ travel entitlements. It became known as the "travel rorts affair". | |
Tampa affair | 2001 | Liberal Party | John Howard | ||
Children Overboard affair | 2001 | Liberal Party | John Howard, Peter Reith | Howard claimed that asylum seekers were throwing their children into the water so the navy would be forced to rescue them. The claim was false. | [2] |
Unlawful detention of Cornelia Rau | 2005 | Liberal Party | Philip Ruddock | ||
Unlawful deportation of Vivian Solon | 2005 | Liberal Party | Philip Ruddock | ||
AWB oil-for-wheat scandal | 2006 | Liberal Party | AWB Limited | ||
Muhamed Haneef affair | 2007 | Liberal Party | Philip Ruddock, Kevin Andrews | ||
Lindsay pamphlet scandal | 2007 | Howard | Jackie Kelly | Liberal Party |
Rudd government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Utegate or OzCar affair | 2009 | Liberal Party | Malcolm Turnbull, Godwin Grech | ||
Pink Batts scandal | 2010 | ALP | Kevin Rudd, Peter Garrett |
Gillard government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Services Union expenses affair | 2010 | ALP | Craig Thomson, Health Services Union, Kathy Jackson, Fair Work Australia, Julia Gillard, Michael Williamson | ||
Ditch the Witch | 2011 | Liberal Party | Tony Abbott, Bronwyn Bishop, Sophie Mirabella | In a protest against the Gillard government's carbon tax a number of MPs from the Liberal party were pictured in front of signs saying "Ditch the Witch" and "JuLiar... Bob Brown's Bitch" | [3] |
Peter Slipper affair | 2012 | Liberal Party ALP |
Peter Slipper, James Ashby |
Abbott government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Offshore detention crisis | 2013-2019 | Liberal Party | Tony Abbott Scott Morrison |
Asylum seekers were locked up indefinitely while their refugee status was being assessed | |
Spying on Indonesian officials | 2009-2013 | Liberal Party ALP |
Tony Abbott | Australian spy agencies attempted to tap the phones of high ranking Indonesian officials including the president. Abbott refused to apologise | [4] |
Australian Water Holdings corruption scandal | 2013 | Liberal Party | Arthur Sinodinos | Corruption in Australian Water Holdings and ICAC investigation into fundraising at the Liberal Party | [5][6] |
Joe Hockey's first budget | 2014 | Liberal Party | Tony Abbott Joe Hockey |
The first budget delivered by the government was seen as being based on severe cuts to welfare and other social programs. It triggered a polling slump that Abbott struggled to recover from | |
Shirtfronting Putin | 2014 | Liberal Party | Tony Abbott | Abbott promised to "shirtfront" Putin when confronting him about his role in the MH17 disaster | [7] |
Duke of Edinburgh knighthood | 2015 | Liberal Party | Tony Abbott | After controversially reinstating knighthoods, Abbott gave one of the first knighthoods to Prince Phillip rather than to an Australian | [8] |
Joe Hockey home ownership gaff | 2015 | Liberal Party | Joe Hockey | With house prices rising sharply, treasurer Joe Hockey said on radio that the first step to home ownership was "get a good job that pays good money" | [9] |
Dutton overheard on a hot mic | 2015 | Liberal Party | Peter Dutton Tony Abbott Scott Morrison |
Peter Dutton at a press conference was overheard on an overhead microphone saying about the Pacific Islands that "time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door" | [10] |
Choppergate | 2015 | Liberal Party | Bronwyn Bishop | Bishop was found to have chartered a helicopter to a Liberal Party fundraiser. This was charged at over $5,000 for what would have been a 1 hour drive. |
Turnbull government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis | 2017 | Liberal Party Nationals ALP Greens Xenophon One Nation |
Scott Ludlam, Larissa Waters, Matt Canavan, Malcolm Roberts, Barnaby Joyce, Fiona Nash, Nick Xenophon and others | Parliamentarians of various parties were found to be in breach of Section 44 of the Constitution which prohibits dual citizens from sitting in parliament | |
Bonk Ban | 2018 | Nationals | Barnaby Joyce | Joyce who was married at the time, was discovered having an affair with a staffer, who was pregnant with his baby. In response a code of conduct was introduced that prevented relationships between MPs and staffers | [11] |
Helloworld scandal | 2019 | Liberal Party | Mathias Cormann, Joe Hockey | It was uncovered that government contracts were being given to a Liberal Party donor, who was also paying for the holidays of a number of MPs | [12] |
Morrison government
Controversy "name" | Date | Parties involved | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Robodebt | 2018-19 | Liberal Party | Scott Morrison, Stuart Robert, Christian Porter | Centrelink were issuing automated debts that had not been incurred by the individuals concerned. | |
It's ok to be white | 2018 | Liberal Party | Christian Porter | The governing coalition supported a motion in the senate declaring "it's ok to be white" and opposing the "deplorable rise of anti-white racism and attacks on Western civilisation" | [13] |
Chinese election signs | 2019 | Liberal Party | Gladys Liu | The Liberal party put up signs in Mandarin in places with large Chinese populations that were deliberately made to look like they were produced by the AEC. The signs directed voter to vote for the Liberal Party | [14] |
Hawaii holiday | 2019-20 | Liberal Party | Scott Morrison | Scott Morrison took a family holiday to Hawaii during one of the worst bushfire seasons on record. He returned only after significant public pressure | [15] |
Forced hand shakes | 2020 | Liberal Party | Scott Morrison | When touring bushfire affected communities, many residents refused to engage with Morrison. On a number of occasions Morrison forced a handshake on residents | [16] |
Bushfire response ad | 2020 | Liberal Party | Scott Morrison | The government released an ad praising their bushfire response. The ad was attacked as being a party political ad paid for by taxpayers | [17] |
Sports rorts affair (2020) | 2019–20 | Liberal Party Nationals | Bridget McKenzie | The government were providing grants for sports projects for communities in marginal electorates. Many of these projects were considered low priority or previously rejected, and were seen as a way to defend the marginal electorates. | |
Brian Houston invited to the White House | 2020 | Liberal Party | Scott Morrison | Scott Morrison's pastor, Houston, was invited to attend an official White House dinner. Houston is under investigation for covering up his father's sex abuse | [18] |
Destruction of Aboriginal cultural sites | 2020 | Liberal Party | Ken Wyatt | Miners Rio Tinto destroyed two sites of Aboriginal cultural significance in Juukan Gorge. | [19][20] |
State controversies
New South Wales
Controversy "name" | Date | State | Administration | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1932 New South Wales constitutional crisis | 1932 | NSW | Lang | Dismissal of NSW Premier Jack Lang by governor Philip Game | ||
Metherell affair | 1992 | NSW | Greiner | Nick Greiner, Tim Moore, Terry Metherell | ||
Orange Grove affair | 2004 | NSW | Carr | |||
Eddie Obeid corruption scandals | 2012 | NSW | Carr, | Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald | ||
Grangegate | 2014 | NSW | O'Farrell | Barry O'Farrell | O'Farrell received a $3,000 bottle of Grange Hermitage and did not declare it. |
Queensland
Controversy "name" | Date | State | Administration | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mungana affair | 1929 | Queensland | Theodore | Corrupt actions by Qld. Premiers Ted Theodore and William McCormack | ||
Bjelkemander | 1972 -1987 | Queensland | Bjelke-Petersen | Joh Bjelke-Petersen | ||
Fitzgerald Inquiry | 1987 | Queensland | Bjelke-Petersen | Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Terry Lewis, Leisha Harvey, Don Lane, Brian Austin | ||
Scott Driscoll corruption scandals | 2013 | Queensland | Newman | Scott Driscoll |
South Australia
Controversy "name" | Date | State | Administration | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Playmander | 1936-1968 | South Australia | Playford | South Australian Electoral "gerrymander" favouring the Liberal and Country League and Sir Thomas Playford | ||
State Bank of South Australia collapse | 1991 | South Australia | Bannon | It caused the resignation of premier John Bannon in 1992, and the crushing electoral defeat of the South Australian Labor government at the 1993 election. | ||
Motorola affair | 2001 | South Australia | Olsen | John Olsen |
Tasmania
Controversy "name" | Date | Administration | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edmund Rouse bribery scandal | 1989 | Jim Cox, Robin Gray, Gunns |
Victoria
Controversy "name" | Date | Administration | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
State Bank of Victoria collapse | 1990 | Kirner | These events were a key factor in the defeat of the Labor government of Joan Kirner and the election of the Liberal Party, led by Jeff Kennett, at the 1992 Victorian state election | ||
Lobster with a Mobster | 2018 | Andrews | Matthew Guy | The opposition leader, Guy was photographed having lunch with an alleged organised crime boss | [21] |
Branch stacking scandal | 2020 | Andrews | Adem Somyurek | High level and wide reaching cases of branch stacking in the Victorian Labor party. Outcome was the federal party taking over the state branch for several years to fix the problem |
Western Australia
Controversy "name" | Date | Administration | People involved | Summary | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nevanas affair | 1915 | Scaddan | Actions leading to the downfall of John Scaddan's W.A. government | ||
Edmund Rouse bribery scandal | 1989 | Jim Cox, Robin Gray, Gunns | |||
WA Inc royal commission | 1992 | Burke | Brian Burke, Alan Bond, Laurie Connell | ||
Easton affair | 1992 | Court | Carmen Lawrence |
References
- Twomey, Anne. "Australian politics explainer: Gough Whitlam's dismissal as prime minister". The Conversation. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- Marr, David (2014-02-11). "Burnt hands, children overboard, it all seems the same to Peter Reith | David Marr". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- Muller, Denis. "Sexist abuse has a long history in Australian politics – and takes us all to a dark place". The Conversation. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
- "Abbott rejects Indonesia's call for spying apology". www.abc.net.au. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Griffiths, political correspondent Emma (2014-03-19). "Sinodinos stands aside as Assistant Treasurer over ICAC investigation". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Elvery, Simon (2014-04-29). "A tangled web: ICAC investigates NSW corruption". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- "What is a 'shirtfront'?". www.abc.net.au. 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- "Angus Houston, Prince Philip named Australia's newest knights". ABC News. 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Clarke, political reporters Melissa; Bennett, James (2015-06-09). "'Get a good job': Hockey under fire over advice to first-home buyers". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- "Dutton jokes about rising sea levels in Pacific". www.abc.net.au. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Crowe, David (2020-04-16). "'How could he have been so stupid': Turnbull, Joyce and the 'bonk ban' debacle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- Hatch, Patrick (2019-02-22). "Suspicious minds are circling Helloworld boss". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- "Senators backed Hanson's 'OK to be white' motion by mistake: Government". www.abc.net.au. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- Taylor, Josh (2019-11-06). "Liberal official admits Chinese language signs were meant to look like they came from AEC". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- Remeikis, Amy (2019-12-20). "Scott Morrison's Hawaii horror show: how a PR disaster unfolded". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Staff; agencies (2020-01-02). "Scott Morrison heckled after he tries to shake hands with bushfire victim in NSW town of Cobargo". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- "'Like being sold to at a funeral': Morrison slammed for running political ads during fire crisis". www.abc.net.au. 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- "Morrison admits inviting controversial pastor to White House dinner". The New Daily. 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- "Rio Tinto blasting of 46,000-year-old Aboriginal sites compared to Islamic State's destruction in Palmyra". www.abc.net.au. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Wahlquist, Calla (2020-05-30). "Juukan Gorge: Rio Tinto blasting of Aboriginal site prompts calls to change antiquated laws". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- "Liberals review slams town party for 'lobster with a mobster'". NewsComAu. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
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