William Summers
Independent researcher and blogger
William Summers is an independent researcher, journalist and communications professional based in Melbourne, Australia. His specialist areas of expertise are Freedom of Information (FOI) and MPs’ allowances. In 2017 he was a Walkley Award finalist.
Politicians are getting hundreds, if not thousands, of undisclosed freebies. This is a real flaw in our democratic process.
Ministers and officials know that in Australia’s toothless system there are no real consequences for departments that flout their own FOI laws.
Sacking ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie was never going to be cheap. But new documents reveal what the the lawyers alone cost.
The government has quietly removed the ban on MPs and senators using office budgets to pay for TV and radio ads. Let's be clear: this is not the norm.
Scott Morrison is waging a war on the "almond latte set", but have they already infiltrated his ranks? We investigate the government-endorsed way to drink coffee.
In 2017, the government stripped two Melbourne councils of their ability to conduct citizenship ceremonies. One year on, what has it meant for new Australians affected?
Outgoing MPs dropped hundreds of thousands of dollars on goodbye mail promoting new candidates in 2016, a Crikey investigation has discovered.
Parliament House says releasing its list of lobbyist organisations would constitute contempt of parliament. Translation: lobbyists will only lobby in secret.
Barnaby Joyce should take some advice from his younger self and recognise the already potent threat of nepotism in an environment where parliamentarians are already too ready to rort the system.
Like it or not, the Queen is our head of state. The public has a right to know what our leaders are discussing with her.
