Our FOI system is broken — just the way government likes it

The auditor general can present surprises, sometimes even uncovering a scandal: political, financial or personal.

Is it political? Consider the “sports mistakes” performance audit that found Senator Bridget McKenzie had overruled Sports Australia’s selection of sports facility grants, directing donations to marginal or politically targeted voters, which led to her quitting the frontbench.

Is it financial? Consider the “Leppington Triangle” performance audit of the purchase of the Leppington Triangle land in Bringelly, NSW, designated for a potential second runway at Western Sydney Airport, which showed the Australian government paying $30 million for land worth $3 million.