mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick
@mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
7K followers 18 following 1.2K posts
Transparency Warrior, small business owner, former Independent Senator for SA and former submariner.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 20h
Having charged Richard Boyle for 66 offenses, tied up the courts for 6 years, spent $339,703 on external legal fees, chilled whistleblowing - with the Court refusing to convict - it’s mind-blowing the CDPP still thinks his prosecution was in the public interest. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️ #auspol
3 38 110
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 1d
@albomp.bsky.social’s #FOI Amendment Bill deals one-sidedly with Govt concerns and completely ignores the serious problems users face accessing Govt info. Unsurprisingly, analysis of Senate submissions on the flawed Bill show it is friendless outside Govt. #auspol
Labor must drop flawed and friendless freedom of information bill
In opposition, the prime minister talked a big game on transparency. It’s about time he walked the walk on open government.
www.afr.com
3 29 79
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 1d
Twilight Zone stuff! We export our gas - contributing significantly to world emissions, causing local electricity prices to go through the roof, whilst not receiving tax or royalties - to keep others happy and to reserve a place for our politicians at the big table. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️ #auspol
4 10 26
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 3d
#BREAKING: Despite their bravado and PR bluff, #FOI has revealed the Govt is engaged in discussions on an alternate to #AUKUS subs. They’re not willing to share anything with the public, but hey, problem recognition is a first step towards remedy. #auspol
A crack in the AUKUS public relations pressure hull! - Michael West
AUKUS is a hugely expensive Defence project facing considerable and, many argue unsurmountable, hurdles. But does Defence have a Plan B?
michaelwest.com.au
11 47 150
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 3d
In a sea of submissions arguing against @albomp.bsky.social‘s #FOI Amendment Bill, the Commissioner is at the helm of a lone ship steering towards Secrecy Island, seeking refuge from choppy transparency seas. We need a new captain! #auspol
1 4 17
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 3d
In an extraordinary submission to the Senate, the Public Service Commissioner has blamed transparency for #RoboDebt. He argues for more secrecy to make life easier for public servants as they advise and influence ministers on how we are governed. #auspol michaelwest.com.au/too-much-tra...
Fat Cats say what? Too much transparency caused Robodebt scandal - Michael West
In an extraordinary pitch for a public servant scrutiny void, senior public servants have blamed Robodebt on transparency.
michaelwest.com.au
10 64 120
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 3d
In a sea of submissions arguing against @albomp.bsky.social’s #FOI Amendment Bill, the Commissioner is at the helm of a lone ship steering towards Secrecy Island, seeking refuge from choppy transparency seas. We need a new captain! #auspol
1 2
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 4d
ICYMI 2/2 #saparli
Read the room, Premier. Pick another site. — Adelaide Park Lands Association
Pressure is mounting on Premier, Peter Malinauskas, to “read the room”; and choose an alternative site for a new golf course. There’s growing community awareness of the shocking impacts on your Par...
www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au
5 15
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 4d
If Peter Malinauskas was NSW Premier this tree, and hundred of others, would be facing the chainsaw so that a golf tournament can be played. Stop attacking the Adelaide Park Lands Pete! Maybe local member Lucy Hood needs to face the chop? 1/2 #saparli
1 9 40
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 4d
Recently retired UK Defence Chief, Admiral Radakin, has decried the decrepit state of our #AUKUS partner's subsurface fleet, as it stretches patrols to "dangerous" durations to cope with issues keeping other subs at sea. Nothing to worry about🤦‍♂️. #auspol
Ageing UK nuclear-armed submarine completes 200-day patrol
Another Royal Navy nuclear submarine has completed a 200-plus day patrol amid fears of shortages of vessels. The ageing Vanguard class submarine was welcomed back to port
www.dailymail.co.uk
1 6 35
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 4d
ICYMI. The blowouts have been completely predictable - except to Govt, it seems. Here’s MWM reporting on it back in July. 2/2 #auspol
Snowy 2.0. Will the Auditor-General get snowed again? - Michael West
Nothing to see here, found the last Auditor-General's report on Snowy Hydro 2 - before costs tripled. Ted Woodley on the latest A-G report
michaelwest.com.au
3 20
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 4d
Snowy 2.0. It went from $2B, to $6B, to $12B, and now ??? I’m currently in the Federal Court trying to get access to their project reports. They say the reports are THEIR business, not OURS, even though WE get to pay for the blowouts. 🤷‍♂️ 1/2 #FOI #auspol
Snowy Hydro 2.0 flags another cost blowout with $12bn price tag now considered unachievable
Pumped hydro project in Kosciuszko national park is 67% complete, but supply chain cost increases and issues with a borer have caused cost overrun
www.theguardian.com
5 21 74
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 4d
As @albomp.bsky.social tries to amend the #FOI Act to wrap matters being considered by his ministry in total secrecy, we find out he also led the charge for the #NACC to never hold public hearings. He talks transparency, but walks secrecy. #TransparencyFraud #auspol
Exclusive: Anthony Albanese overruled push for public NACC hearings
The Saturday Paper can reveal that the prime minister and other ministers from NSW intervened in cabinet to constrain the operations of the country’s leading integrity body.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
10 78 160
Reposted by Rex Patrick
australiainstitute.org.au
The Australia Institute @australiainstitute.org.au · 5d
New government data confirms what everyone already knew...multinational gas exporters are reaping billions from Australian resources while paying little or no tax.

"People are getting increasingly sick of it."

🔊Richard Denniss, co-CEO, the Australia Institute
@richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol
13 120 290
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 5d
How selfish of our premiers! Don’t they appreciate @albomp.bsky.social has committed and commenced payment of almost $10B to build/improve US and UK shipyards that won’t deliver us any subs. Never mind emergency department turn-aways, fantasy subs take priority! 🤦‍♂️ #AUKUS #auspol
10 35
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 5d
#Live on Sydney Harbour: It looks like the Chief of Navy has finally realised that #AUKUS won’t deliver submarines to the Navy and has recommissioned a 1950’s designed Oberon class submarine to defend us. 😉 #auspol
3 19 72
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 6d
It won’t happen. The #AUKUS sub deal is a $368B illusion that won’t deliver Australia the expected capability. All the while it’s draining much needed funding for other Defence capabilities, leaving us in a perilous national security situation.👂👇 #auspol
‘Won’t happen’ - Former Senator issues grim AUKUS prediction
 Rex Patrick, the former senator and former submariner, spoke with John Stanley and offered up a grim prediction for Australia and the all-important AUKUS deal. Hear more highlights from Ben Fordham ...
www.2gb.com
8 36 120
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 7d
In his #FOI amendment Bill @albomp.bsky.social wants to remove anonymity for whistleblowers or retribution fearing individuals/businesses who want to request information, but grant anonymity to ‘no care, no responsibility’ bureaucrats making FOI refusal decisions. #ForGovtNotForYou #auspol
5 43 90
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 7d
The #AUKUS submission of Rear Admiral Peter Briggs Rtd to JSCOT screams “quagmire”. Unfortunately for him, and for us, in the vacuum of Richard Marles’s ‘Canberra AUKUS bubble’, no-one will hear his scream. Please sit down for this $368B must read 👉 www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...
3 30 61
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 8d
ICYMI 2/2 #auspol
'Valley of death' or mountain of spin? Gas reservation must be retrospective to cut power bills - Michael West
The price of electricity in Australia could be halved, but the Government is suckered by the gas cartel’s lies and spin. Rex Patrick reports
michaelwest.com.au
1 8 21
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 8d
Everyday electricity consumers are suffering financially and the future survivability of energy intensive domestics industries is at risk - all in order to meet the profit wants of the gas cartel. It’s OUR gas. We need a retrospective gas reservation scheme, yesterday! 1/2 #auspol
4 31 82
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 8d
It looks like the US will continue with #AUKUS ... for now. An official has indicated "no political decision has been made to alter the schedule, though industrial delays could affect delivery". $368B political subs in 2035, just not real ones. #auspol
US said to clear AUKUS submarine deal after review
The Trump Administration will move forward with the AUKUS defense pact after a Pentagon review, keeping the original timeline for the sale of at least three Virginia-class submarines to Australia begi...
breakingthenews.net
4 7 23
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 9d
Secrecy for political expediency infringes upon the implied ‘freedom of political observation’ in our Constitution👇. 2/2 #TestCase #auspol
Reynolds, Daniel --- "An Implied Freedom of Political Observation in the Australian Constitution" [2018] MelbULawRw 18; (2018) 42(1) Melbourne University Law Review
classic.austlii.edu.au
5 20
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 9d
@albomp.bsky.social’s proposed #FOI amendments deliberately conflate ‘the public interest’ in openness and transparency with ‘the Government’s interest’ in secrecy, and go beyond reasonableness. If passed, they’d be open to a constitutional challenge. 1/2 #auspol
Labor’s proposed FoI clampdown ‘ripe’ for high court challenge, legal expert says
Move to further restrict access to documents prepared for government ministers may go against the right to political free speech
www.theguardian.com
2 23 62
mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10d
The Court of Appeal’s decision can be found here.
PATRICK v THE STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [2025] SASCA 108 (25 September 2025)
Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) - Hosted by University of Technology Sydney Faculty of Law
www.austlii.edu.au
4 13