faulker03

The following suggestions for commitments, if supported ,require refinement to ensure any commitment is specific, concrete and ambitious.We should learn from experience with the first plan that vague statements of intended outcomes  and plans to review and consult do not meet this OGP requirement.  1. Anti-corruption A national integrity commission and a suite of anti-corruption reforms not limited to those  included in the first national action plan yet to be delivered. The Deputy CEO of the OGP Support Unit Joe Powell urges countries preparing a plan this year to include anti corruption measures. https://voices.transparency.or g/2018s-corruption-focused-sum mits-must-turn-promises-into- action-358fa5d35505 2. Integrity Address gaps and weaknesses in lobbying and political donations regulation. Measures to include a comprehensive scheme for registration of lobbyists, periodic reporting of lobbying activity. Join Parliament in the open government initiative with a commit...

T he following observations, comments and suggestions are put forward for consideration as plans for the OGP national action plan are developed. Some raise administrative and policy issues that are unlikely to result in commitments in the plan but nevertheless are relevant to our open government ambitions. 1.Uncertainty about where things stand The lack of information about where things stand and the likely outcomes by July 2018 limits discussion of possible commitments for the next plan. A number of  commitments are tagged 'Delayed.' With these commitments and others currently described as 'On track' it is not clear where we are, where we are going and where if anywhere we should aim for next . Current reporting on Commitments 3.1 Information Access (AGD) and 4.3 Open Contracting (Finance) for example provides no indication of what is under consideration by the government. The lack of information hampers discussion about the next phase. 2. Moving toward the open govern...

I've lodged three comments/submissions about the current consulation by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on possible commitments for the second OGP National Action Plan. On meetings in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane that concluded on 23 March "Based on the Sydney meet that I attended and feedback from Canberra and Melbourne, the round of consultations was disappointing to put it mildly. Attendances were low. The lack of awareness of the OGP initiative continues. Beyond utilisation of social media, were steps taken to identify civil society organisations that would seem to have an interest in these issues? Did any agency other than PMC refer to the consultation on their website or contact organisations they deal with to encourage engagement? The absence of indications from government of serious intent is a factor in the low level of engagement. When has the PM followed up his words of November 2015 with anything that resembles strong ongoing enthusias...

The article below appears in "Criminalising The Truth Suppressing the Right to Know: The Report into the State of Press Freedom in Australia in 2016 " (pdf p39) published on Friday by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance. An update of course is the government's decision announced in the Budget this week that it will not proceed with legislation to abolish the Office of Australian Information Commissioner. There is plenty more of interest in the report-commend it to you!! Little Intent behind the Promise On the transparent, open and accountable government, front, it’s that familiar story six months into the Turnbull era. Hope and disappointment.  On his first day in office hopes were raised when Prime Minister Turnbull said  we " need an open government, an open government that recognises that there is an enormous sum of wisdom both within our colleagues in this building and, of course, further afield. The statement reminded of the Liberal Party promise be...

An entry in today's Senate Bills List - there are over 200 bills in th e 'lapsed' category as the new session of parliament kicks off but let's hope common sense, the co mmon good and the Prime Minister's endorsement of the goals of the Open Government Partnership mean this is the last we'll hear of this one: Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill 2014 Amends the: Freedom of Information Act 1982 to provide for: the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to have sole jurisdiction for external merits review of freedom of information (FOI) decisions; the Attorney-General to be responsible for FOI guidelines, collection of FOI statistics and the annual report on the operation of the Act; and the Ombudsman to have sole responsibility for the investigation of FOI complaints; and Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 and Privacy Act 1988 to provide for an Australian Privacy Commissioner as an independent statutory officer holder within the Au...