The Accountability Round Table is a non-partisan group of citizens with diverse backgrounds (academics, lawyers, politicians, journalists, authors) who are concerned with the current erosion of honesty and integrity in our democracy.  The Accountability Round Table is dedicated to improving standards of accountability, probity, transparency and democratic practice in all governments and parliaments in Australia.

Accountability Round Table has long held concerns about the protection of Freedom of Information given the abolition of the oversight body, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), followed by its restoration in a weakened and underfunded form. The Australian National Action plan presented to the Open Government Partnership Paris Summit in November 2016 included a commitment (Commitment 3.1) concerning freedom of information. In the course of a productive discussion on 31 Ma

Griffith University and Transparency International have released a new discussion paper as an outcome of the National Integrity Conference held in Brisbane over 16 – 17 March 2017; A Federal Anti-Corruption Agency for Australia? DISCUSSION PAPER #1 Strengthening Australia’s National Integrity System: Priorities for Reform This discussion paper is the first in a series to be released to assist public and expert debate on key issues and options for the strengthening of Australia’s syst

It’s good news that the Federal Government and civil society completed and lodged, with the (International) Open Government Partnership, Australia’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on 8th of December last year  to improve and strengthen transparency and openness in Government. Over the next two years, the Federal Government and civil society will be engaged in the “cooperative consultation” involved in implementing this first NAP. We reproduce below, our letter to the Prime Minster, Malco

There are several recent developments in transparency and accountability worth noting. Make it your business to follow up what transpires from each. Select Committee on a National Integrity Commission On 8 February 2017, the Parliament of Australia established a Select Committee on a National Integrity Commission Its terms of reference require the committee to consider the adequacy of the current integrity arrangements and to ascertain whether a national integrity commission should be establishe

The NSW ICAC has been under sustained political pressure from those who stand to gain by weak investigatory bodies, to wind back its powers to investigate corruption in public service since its inquiry into Margaret Cuneen, and investigations into the Liberal Party. (See Operation Spicer) Earlier this month the powers of ICAC were drastically reduced, replacing the present Commissioner, Megan Latham with a panel of three commissioners, and requiring her to reapply for her position.  (See SMH 15

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OGP COMMITMENTS? The fourth OGP Global Summit will take place in Paris, December 7th – 9th. The OGP summit will involve 3000 representatives from 70 countries: Heads of State and governments, ministers, public servants, members of parliament, local authorities, civil society representatives, start-ups and digital innovators, civic techs, developers, researchers, journalists will gather in Paris to share their experiences and push forward the open government agenda in