Inside Story

National affairs Time for an independent ombudsman John Wood 20 October 2011 The events leading up to Allan Asher’s resignation highlight the need for the ombudsman to be free of government and departmental control, argues John Wood National affairs Blowing the whistle Norman Abjorensen 10 September 2009 Protection for whistleblowers in Australia is patchy and inconsistent, writes Norman Abjorensen National affairs The rise and fall of a Canberra soufflé Geoffrey Barker 25 June 2009 Over the past week Canberra has fiddled while the world burns, writes Geoffrey Barker National affairs A strange tale of two diplomats Geoffrey Barker 12 February 2009 The contrasting treatment of Trent Smith and Matthew Hyndes raises troubling questions about the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, writes Geoffrey Barker