by jmsthornton | Aug 19, 2016 | Code of Conduct, Federal Government, Fitzgerald Principles, Freedom of Information, Lobbying, News, Open Government Partnership (OGP), Public Trust, Queensland, Queensland Crime Commissions, Reforms
This paper, “Democracy at the Crossroads?” was delivered by Hon Tim Smith QC at the Cairn’s Tropical Writers Festival, 11 August 2016. In it, he sets out two broad principles to which members of parliament should adhere, The “Fitzgerald Principles” and The...
by jmsthornton | Jun 14, 2016 | Election 2016, Federal Government, Freedom of Information, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The OAIC – The effect of the Government 2016-7 Budget An ART background paper to the election commitments sought by ART from all parties prior to the the July 2nd Federal Election June 2016 Introduction Over the last two years the Government failed in its attempt to... by jmsthornton | Jun 12, 2016 | Election, Election 2016, Federal Government, News
The public office, public, trust principle Parties are like football clubs – no matter how much money they get, they will spend it and then want more. Former Victorian Premier, John Cain, Oct 2006 Australia’s federal electoral system has few constraints on donations...
by jmsthornton | Apr 10, 2016 | Corruption, Federal Government, Freedom of Information, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, Open Government Partnership (OGP)
The Open Government Partnership, an international effort to secure commitments from governments worldwide ” to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance” was signed up to by the Turnbull...
by jmsthornton | Apr 6, 2016 | Corruption, Federal Government
Neil Tiffen argues in “The Age” that corruption “is not just an issue for government – it applies to businesses, political parties, sports associations, charitable organisations and unions. It affects us all.” What we need is a “Federal...
by jmsthornton | Apr 4, 2016 | Corruption, Federal Government, Lobbying, Political Funding, Reforms
Colleen Lewis makes a new contribution to the debate on the conflict of interest inherent in political donations, especially when those donations are made by big corporations and effectively hidden from scrutiny. “Political funding is a fundamental public...