by jmsthornton | Dec 2, 2015 | Auditor General, IBAC, News, Victoria, Victorian Government Integrity System Reform
In a move long awaited by ART, the Government announced on 29 November 2015 that Victorian IBAC watchdog is finally to get the necessary teeth to investigate MPs, judges and public servants with legislation to be presented in the December sittings. ART members have...
by jmsthornton | Nov 26, 2015 | Ombudsman, Political Funding, Victoria, Victorian Government Integrity System Reform
The Victorian Ombudsman has called for more powerful laws to reveal the extent of political donations from property developers to curb the perception that Victorian governments are captive of developers interests. Two news articles detail her findings. ...
by jmsthornton | Nov 24, 2015 | Federal Government, Freedom of Information, Governance, Lobbying, Open Government, Open Government Partnership (OGP), Reforms
After a change of Prime Minister and a good deal of pressure from ART and other accountability-promoting organisations, on 17th of November, the Turnbull Government has finally agreed to join the Open Government Partnership. The Open Government Partnership exists to...
by jmsthornton | Nov 9, 2015 | Federal Government, Governance, News, Public Trust
Barry Jones, a longstanding member of Accountability Round Table has written two papers on the state of democracy in Australia from two different perspectives. These provide a context for openness and accountability in Australian government and public institutions....
by jmsthornton | Nov 3, 2015 | News
Here are audio files of the three speakers at the recent “Buying power” ICAN event on the many negative effects of political donations on political decision making. Mr Royce Millar is a Fairfax investigative journalist with a special interest in public...