The minimum actions to restore Parliamentry integrity

Action to restore open and accountable government at a Federal level
1. Parliamentary reform
a)    Independent presiding officers in both houses
b)    Reforms to question time to enable it to function as part of the accountability process
c)    Confirmation of Parliament's right to call the staff of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries to give evidence and repudiation of the so-called "McMullan Principle".
d)    Ensuring adequate resourcing of Opposition and other parties and independent members.

This is a list to be updated as we hear of new Parliamentary reform promises and suggestions from Parliamentarians and other political players.

Christopher Pyne on time limits on answers, an independent speaker and a guarantee that private member's bills would be voted on

How are the major parties proposing to enhance Parliamentary integrity and accountability?

We have Election 2010 responses from Greens, Coalition and Labor. Read on...

OUR QUESTION 1

Do you support a comprehensive independent integrity system for the Commonwealth incorporating a general purpose Commonwealth anti-corruption agency, which includes educative, research and policy functions and which is provided with all necessary powers and is subject to parliamentary oversight?

OUR QUESTION 2

Do you support an enquiry by the Australian Law Reform Commission into regulation of the funding of political parties and candidates to achieve equality of access and integrity in our democratic system?

PARTIES & CANDIDATES  COMMITMENTS

ACCOUNTABILITY ROUND TABLE CALLS FOR ACTION ON POLITICAL CORRUPTION, DONATIONS

The Accountability Round Table seeks public commitments from all parties and candidates to establish:

1. a comprehensive independent integrity system for the Commonwealth incorporating a general purpose Commonwealth anti-corruption agency, which includes educative, research and policy functions and which is provided with all necessary powers and is subject to parliamentary oversight and

2. an enquiry by the Australian Law Reform Commission into regulation of the funding of political parties and candidates to achieve equality of access and integrity in our democratic system.

ELECTION 2010 PROMISES ON TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY

Labor Party

No new announcements we can find, but the National platform 2009 chapter on governance is downloadable here Download Article...

Chapter 11 - New ways of governing for a stronger democracy

Includes...

Swan song for former corruption fighter

The head of one of Australia's most famous corruption inquiries, Tony Fitzgerald, laments the lack of political accountability in modern Australian politics.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA, PRESENTER: I spoke with Tony Fitzgerald in what he says is his last interview.

Tony Fitzgerald, thank you for coming onto Stateline

TONY FITZGERALD, FORMER ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSIONER: A pleasure, thank you.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: Why has this been your swansong?

Madden hijacks inquiry

Fitzgerald swan song: Australian democracy is bent

Simon Lauder reported this story on Thursday, March 11, 2010 17:14:00

PM AUDIO & WEBSITE HERE

MARK COLVIN: The former anti-corruption royal commissioner and judge, Tony Fitzgerald, has made what he says will be his last commentary on the state of government in Australia.

And it was damning.

Mr Fitzgerald says the prevailing political culture is amoral, anarchic, controlled by money and lacking in ethics, oversight and accountability.

He says too many politicians are motivated by power rather than public interest and there's too much government by executive.

In short, Mr Fitzgerald says, our democracy is not broken but bent.

He delivered his assessment while launching an initiative of the Accountability Round Table, designed to reward politicians for honour and integrity.

Thursday 11th March 2010
Tony Fitzgerald, QC
"Swansong" Speech 1100 am Monash University Law Chambers 
 The Accountability Round Table:  Button – Missen Awards Launch

Much as I dislike speaking on public occasions, it’s a privilege & pleasure to be here this morning with my colleague of many years, the Hon. Tim Smith QC, & his distinguished associates at the Accountability Round Table including, in random order, the Hon. Race Matthews, the Hon. Ken Coghill, the Hon. Alan Hunt, Professor David Yencken, Ms Julia Thornton, Ms Prue Innes, Mr Bruce Grant & Mr Barry Everingham.

Tim & I first met almost 30 years ago as part-time Australian Law Reform Commissioners. Since then, he’s had an illustrious career as barrister & Supreme Court judge while I’ve periodically re-discovered how easy it is to attract unwanted controversy. I hope to avoid that today in this, my swansong, by noting that my comments are not directed to individual politicians, a specific political party or politics in a particular State & my opinions are simply those of an extremely fallible aging private citizen with children & grandchildren who is interested in Australia’s future.

• Olga Galacho
• March 11, 2010

  CAN you imagine my disappointment at realising that a federal parliamentarian I had hoped to nominate for the inaugural Button-Missen integrity awards failed to meet the criteria?