Rod Campbell, Research Director at the Australia Institute, and Bill Browne, Director of Democracy & Accountability, explore whether consulting can be considered a profession, discussing the lack of discipline and standards in the industry. They also delve into scandals involving consulting firms working for the government, the need for professional standards in economics and consulting, and propose punishment alternatives outside Parliament House.

Bill Browne, Director of the Democracy & Accountability Program at the Australia Institute, sheds light on Australia's troubling culture of secrecy. He discusses the significant role whistleblowers play in fostering governmental transparency and the stark differences in their protections compared to the U.S. Browne critiques the National Anti-Corruption Commission's effectiveness, particularly in light of scandals like robo-debt. He advocates for urgent reforms, including better freedom of information access and a dedicated whistleblower authority, to restore public trust in democracy.