> The National Anti-Corruption Commission Inspector has announced she has launched a formal investigation into the regulator’s refusal to investigate six public officials referred by the Royal Commission into Robodebt.

For anyone missing the significance, the Inspector announced "looking into" complaints about the NACC decision months ago, but this is the first time the word "investigation" has been used.

> The distinction is important because once a formal “investigation” is commenced the NACC Inspector has additional powers, including the power to obtain documents.

Title edited down from first paragraph

Original title: "GUESS WHO? The $600,000 question at the heart of Robodebt"

> former Queensland secretary Michael Ravbar – who’s been dismissed together with almost all other officials – said he would launch a challenge against the legislation passed last week to put the union into administration.

> The decision by the National Anti-Corruption Commission not to investigate the six public servants over the Robodebt scandal appears to have been “infected by the bias of Commissioner Justice Paul Brereton and, if so, should now be disregarded”, says Stephen Charles AO KC, a former judge at the Victorian Court of Appeal and a former board member of the Centre of Public Integrity.

> Foreign Minister Penny Wong was forced to concede that Australia was exporting parts into the F-35 global supply chain but then doubled down. She told ABC Insiders on 16 June: “We have F-35s… we are part of 18 nations who are part of that consortia. We are involved in non-lethal parts…”

> The UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) makes no mention of the lethality of the individual parts or components that comprise the weapons (“conventional arms”) it covers.

> The Arms Trade Treaty and the Geneva Conventions are clear on human rights responsibilities. Article 6.3 states that a nation-state should not authorise any transfer of conventional arms if it knows at the time that the items would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, or other war crimes.

Much more in the article

Labor Senator Fatima Payman defies her party to advocate for the recognition of Palestine

> In opposition, our prime minister and the Labor Party were fierce champions of Palestine and passionate voices for justice. I ask that we summon that spirit of old and do the same in power.

See also the Guardian covering her writing the article https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jun/18/labor-senator-fatima-payman-albanese-government-palestine-israel-gaza-war

> “We must not forget that people have the legal right to seek safety and asylum. It is beyond comprehension the Albanese government is continuing Australia’s cruel legacy of banishing people offshore simply because they sought safety by sea, and to prevent political fallout from the opposition.” > > Abdel-Raouf said authorities on the island had kept asylum groups separate – and so unable to share information – and restricted people’s ability to contact family members, support agencies or advocacy organisations. Asylum seekers have had smartphones taken from them – and with them access to apps like WhatsApp to communicate with family – replaced by “brick” dumb phones without cameras, which means they cannot take photos to document their detention.

> An investigation has been launched into the National Anti-Corruption Commission over its refusal to investigate six public officials referred to it by the Robodebt Royal Commission almost a year ago.

> The NACC's decision to ignore the crime of Robodebt is a kick in the guts for every victim of this heinous scheme and further evidence of the failure of our public institutions, writes managing editor Michelle Pini.