The Latest Breaking News from Geoffrey Watson

The state government's decision to disband a probe into Victoria's Lawyer X scandal has been met with criticism from former judges and legal experts.

Awarding grants for explicit decisions of government risks ‘entrenching a system of permissible pork-barrelling’, barrister says

Corruption watchdog found no evidence that Northcote MP knew donations were allegedly solicited from developer

Gina Rinehart's company, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, was behind a $150,000 payment to the Liberal Party, transferred via a third party, and not declared by the mining giant.

Is your dog afraid of storms? The Top End's cyclone season can be a frightening time for some dogs and anxious owners trying to protect them.

The South Australian Law Society has renewed calls for a review of anti-corruption laws after suggestions there is a loophole in changes to the law that were rushed through parliament last year.

A new ICAC report could put paid to a belief popular among some MPs that using public money for political purposes is normal practice.

A prominent barrister says the public should be "outraged" by changes that will allow members of parliament, police and public servants in South Australia who are charged after anti-corruption probes to slug taxpayers for their legal fees, even if they are convicted.

Tasmanian Liberal MPs were patrons or members of at least seven organisations that won taxpayer-funded grants after pre-election promises — but the government is adamant the local community does not expect organisations to be ineligible "simply because a candidate is a patron".