by jmsthornton | Nov 14, 2016 | Auditor General, Freedom of Information, News, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, Submissions
The Accountability Round Table continues to be concerned about the reduced state of the Federal Freedom of Information Act and its implementation. The role of the freedom of information Commissioner remains vacant and has been vacant for some 22 months. The submission...
by Lyn Allison | Nov 10, 2016 | Annual Integrity Lecture, News
Integrity in Public Life: The Jim Carlton Memorial Lecture Accountability: Do programs work? (and how can we find out?) Through a glass darkly …. This is the question the Hon Peter Baume will address in his Jim Carlton Memorial Lecture, jointly hosted by the...
by jmsthornton | Oct 31, 2016 | Election 2016, Federal Government, News, Political Funding, Reforms
POLITICAL FUNDING and PARTY RULES Following on from our JSCEM submission on political donations by Colleen Lewis, this post reproduces Ken Coghill’s submission 48 to JSCEM, also on political funding and donations to parties. Accountability Round Table has made...
by jmsthornton | Oct 31, 2016 | Election 2016, News, Political Funding, Reforms
POLITICAL FUNDING – THE KEY CHANGES NEEDED Accountability Round Table has made two submissions to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters’ inquiry into the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016. This standing committee inquiry is a regular...
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 Lyn Allison | Jun 14, 2016 | News
The Accountability Round Table today (Tues 14 June) asked political parties and candidates to commit to measures to improve the integrity and accountability of government. Chair of ART, Tim Smith QC, former Supreme Court Judge said The Commonwealth Government...