ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that ethics reforms are stimulated by scandals whose subsequent investigation is massively diverting in time and energy. It discusses some of the institutions attempting to provide such advice, and some of the potential problems of political accountability and responsibility that arise from them. Ethics reforms are invariably prompted by political scandals. In the absence of any sources of prior advice and interpretation, ministers breached the rules without understanding them and made them vulnerable to subsequent political attack by press and Opposition. Preventing the abuse of power for the purpose of holding on to power requires the support of a strong ethics regime — including strong laws, ethical standards and independent institutions. Fleming points out that 'politicians have shown a reluctance to subject themselves to the Independent Committee against Corruption ethical standards'. Comprehensive in its content, but less comprehensive in the personnel it covers, is the advice provided by the Canadian Ethics Counsellor and the Queensland Integrity Commissioner.
