
The erosion of public trust
ArticlePolitics
BY Simon Longstaff and The Ethics Centre 17 SEP 2021
Christian Porter’s decision to accept an anonymous donation of one million dollars to help cover his personal legal costs has not merely raised questions about his personal judgement.
It has, once again, exposed larger issues about the extent to which some of our government ministers understand the demands of political leadership in a democracy.
To be clear, I do not see anything wrong, in general, with a person accepting financial support to cover the costs of litigation. Nor is there anything problematic about offering such support. There is not even a problem, in general, with such support being anonymous. So, if Mr. Porter were just an ‘ordinary citizen’, there would be little to discuss.
The controversy is solely related to the fact that Mr. Porter is a Member of Parliament and was a cabinet minister in the Federal Government led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison – a position that Porter freely chose to accept, presumably with knowledge of all that it requires. The fact that Mr. Porter resigned from the Ministry allays one source of concern. However, the issues at the heart of this controversy extend well beyond the treasury benches to encompass all serving MPs.
In fact, Mr. Porter’s case raises important issues of principle; namely, whether or not politicians (of all political persuasions) should be allowed, in our democracy, to receive substantial amounts of money by way of anonymous donations. In this, the acid test is not what is convenient (or not) for politicians and their supporters. Rather, the only consideration should be in relation to what supports, or undermines, the quality of our democracy.
Now, it could turn out to be the case that Mr. Porter has not broken any formal rules. Whether or not this is the case will be determined in due course. Yet, to think that this is simply a matter of compliance is, I believe, to miss the point. We are living through a time when the exemplary power of leadership is a potent force for both good and ill. And some of our politicians just don’t seem to understand this!
Ideally, I would prefer to cite examples from across the political spectrum. I am sure that they exist. Unfortunately, the spotlight tends to fall on those in power. So, when a government minister doles out public funds for a private political purpose it has a chilling effect on public trust in those who govern, even if what was done is technically within the rules. Then we have the case of Christian Porter – which, as noted above, seems to offer evidence of either ignorance of, or indifference to, basic standards of good governance.
We might all genuinely sympathise with the desire of a dad to be with his children on Father’s Day. However, when the Prime Minister takes advantage of an opportunity not available to hundreds and thousands of their fellow-citizens, it leaves the impression that there is one rule for the powerful and another for the rest of us.
As noted above, the issue I am concerned about does not concern compliance with the rules. It’s not that such questions are unimportant. It’s just not the focus of this article. Rather, I am worried about the effects of a continuing erosion of trust in our government. Some people might think this to be a trivial matter. Perhaps it is when nothing much is at stake. However, those are not the times in which we are living.
The COVID19 pandemic has been the most significant threat to Australia in the past 50 years. Furthermore, the response to that threat has largely lain in the hands of the community as a whole. Governments can lead, they can put in place policies and procedures, they can supply critical resources like vaccines and safe quarantine facilities. Yet, none of that will be to good effect unless ordinary Australians accept the costs of lockdowns, wear masks, remain socially distant, be vaccinated, etc. This requires the public to look beyond self-interest. The community as a whole has to have a concern for the general welfare of society. Most importantly, we need to be able to trust the judgement and advice of those who govern.
At least in part, this depends on us believing that our political leaders are in this with us; that we are ‘all in the same boat’.
Also, we need to believe that our politicians will act solely in the public interest and that if, for some reason, they do not, then they will be held to account with at least the same degree of rigour that applies to the rest of us.
Leaders should not wait until a time of crisis to demonstrate their integrity. Every decision – including those that do not ‘seem to matter’ – builds (or undermines) the ethical capital upon which politicians must draw at times such as these. That is, the character of political leadership is established in fine detail over time. Mere compliance with the rules is the bare minimum – nothing more. The real ‘weight’ lies in countless acts of discretion not merely in terms of substance but equally in terms of their symbolic significance.
We should all realise that this imposes an extraordinary burden on our politicians. Their public service requires more of them than we demand of ourselves. However sympathetic we might be to their plight, that is the price that must be paid by those who choose to govern. Alas, this is the lesson that a number of our political leaders seem not to have learned.
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BY Simon Longstaff
After studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, Simon pursued postgraduate studies in philosophy as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1991, Simon commenced his work as the first Executive Director of The Ethics Centre. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.”

BY The Ethics Centre
The Ethics Centre is a not-for-profit organisation developing innovative programs, services and experiences, designed to bring ethics to the centre of professional and personal life.
9 Comments
Is “Democracy” the opportunity once every four or so years to indicate which of a small field of candidates – about each of whom I really know very little – to represent me the limit of my participation in – “Government of the people by the people for the people”?
ReplyWhen Sun Tzu wrote, “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle”, did he mean for elected leaders to express “I don’t hold a hose, Mate” (ref. Scott Morrison; Dec 20th, 2019) when the nation is on fire, or “It’s not a race, it’s not a competition.” (ref. Scott Morrison; Mar 11th, 2021) during a global pandemic?
There’s a facet of public life that seems to be missing today; ‘shame’ – defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behaviour”. I recall a time, when Politicians after experiencing such an emotion, resigned “… for the good of the Party”. However, post ‘sports rort’, ‘car park rort’ or the ‘cheap-shot’ dilema, no one at any level has taken accountability and resigned.
Can we assume therefore, that there is some truth in Chris Stirewalt’s account (on 4 Corners “Fox and the Big Lie – Part One”) “The secret that Trump knows is, if you’re going to lie, go big. Right? Don’t waste your time on niggling little, tiny prevarications. Go big. And then what you do is you wait for the obsequious toads to come along and rationalise your lie.”
I am grateful to Dr Simon Longstaff and the Ethics Centre for their commentary on the erosion of public trust in government. This is an issue of enormous concern. I believe that it is imperative to continue to speak out.
Thank you.
Unfortunately I am one of those people who have lost total confidence in the integrity and honesty of politicians. Australia has been devoid of leadership for a few decades now, and the current group are at the bottom of that heap. I am no longer surprised at the lack of integrity because I are now conditioned to expect it. There is no outrage in the community because politicians know that people simply trying to survive don’t have the energy to be outraged. The Australian community subsequently accepts mediocrity in our politicians, and that is exactly what we get and worse.
ReplyYes, trust in our public leaders is in short supply. I suggest the fundamental elements needed to rebuild trust are certainly compliance, authenticity, and discernment. Beyond this, however, leadership requires an ability to inspire. This calls for imagination and the ability to go the extra mile. I once worked for a Town clerk who, on the last day of the financial year, would conspicuously walk into the general office and pay the accounts officer in cash the estimated cost of his private use of the company car, his private phone calls at work, and other incidentals.
ReplyIt is more than the erosion of trust. When ordinary people see politicians and other leaders “rorting “ the system they then start to think that they can do something similar. This then tends to erode the whole fabric of society
ReplyDid Australians ever trust their politicians? Hasn’t it always been fashionable to say they are all liars. People seem to prefer cynicism…didn’t some Aussie PM say (something like) “No matter who you elect you get a politician” – people love to believe it’s all hopeless. And a high suicide rate of young people…probably IS hopeless!
ReplyNot really. There was little trust anyway. The Corman saga is an excellent example. While we were all stuck at home he was being flown around Europe at our expense and certainly not for our benefit. It was to allow him to pretend he was concerned about climate change after years of climate denial!
ReplyI wholeheartedly support the comments of Dr Simon Longstaff on the erosion of public trust in Australian politicians. I see with dismay a persistent and flippant dismissal by the incumbent senior government ministers of what by reasonable standards is improper behavior-such as jumping on a VIP jet for a self-indulgent flight at public expense, when less than 4 days later, a return journey to Sydney was scheduled anyway, or casting aside public concern that undisclosed financial support could hide a goal of political influence. If resignation was the fate of Senator Sam Dastiyari, over a donation to support personal legal fees, how could there be a moment’s hesitation by the Prime Minister that Porter’s fate as a minister could be different?
Sadly, these these indiscretions pale against their indifference to the suffering of lives being ruined in immigration detention at their pleasure.
Reply
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