Uncategorised 10th August 2016

Australia’s National Action Plan – ‘genuine partnership’ the way forward

by Peter Timmins

In response to the invitation from Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to make suggestions about consultation and engagement on the national action plan:

“The Australian Open Government Partnership Network welcomes the statement issued on 4 August that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will be seeking to further engage with the public, civil society organisations and other interest groups over next two months to finalise the 2016 National Action Plan (NAP) by the end of October 2016.

It is particularly pleasing that the intention is that the process will proceed in a spirit of genuine partnership, involve joint review of the key proposals put forward through the initial workshop, identify new proposals where appropriate, and take account of the outcomes from the United Kingdom Anti‑Corruption Summit held in May 2016 and other countries NAPs to raise the overall aspiration of the Plan.

The Network Steering Committee suggested a way forward along these lines in a meeting with Deputy Secretary Kennedy on 6 July. In summary:

An interim multi stakeholder mechanism should be established to assist in managing the finalisation of the plan.

The committee/council/forum could be co-chaired by a senior government official (Secretary, or Deputy Secretary) and a respected non government representative with equal representation from within government and from civil society organisations.

The group should be tasked with preparing a draft plan containing agreed ambitious commitments that “promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.” As mentioned in the statement this would involve drawing on work already undertaken within government and from proposals put forward during earlier consultations.

If practicable the co-chairs are to have access to the Prime Minister or a minister nominated by him no later than the first week in September in order to outline progress and canvass emerging options some of which may require an indication of willingness to consider change to existing or announced policy.

In its report due on 30 September in addition to submitting the draft plan, the committee/council/forum should identify significant areas of disagreement, if any, between government and non government representatives regarding priorities for reform.

The committee/council/forum will take into account the outcomes from the UK Anti Corruption Summit, and will also canvass issues relevant to OGP goals that arise from the planned implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and participation by Australia in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

The committee/council/ forum as a first item of business should endorse the themes that will form the framework for possible commitments, and the criteria to be used to assess proposed commitments already put forward and any additional proposals.

It will invite further contributions from the public, and contact prominent civil society, business and other organisations not previously involved who may enrich discussion of priority reforms.

The plan will include a commitment to establish a permanent mechanism to replace the interim multi stakeholder arrangement within the period covered by the plan. That  arrangement should reflect emerging OGP ‘good practice’ for government-non government dialogue and participation in OGP plan development and implementation.

Support should be provided for the committee/council/forum by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and include funding to cover direct expenses and the time involved of non government participants.”