Strong interest in civil society spots on Interim Working Group
Expressions of Interest in participating in the Open Government Partnership Interim Working Group established by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet closed on Wednesday.
https://ogpau.govspace.gov.au/submissions-for-the-interim-working-group-are-now-closed/
To my knowledge ten members of the Network submitted nominations. There may be others in the 40- along with interested applicants who haven’t engaged with the Network to this point.
Five member positions and one co-chair position are available.
The ten include some who are members of the Network Steering Committee and some who are not.
The Steering Committee did not nominate applicants, instead encouraging the best in civil society ranks to consider nominating in the six days available.
They do so as individuals who should be assessed on their merits.
The committee however did indicate support for the member who expressed a willingness to take the CSO Co-Chair position, Dr Ken Coghill. He is not a member of the Network Steering Committee.
Ken is an Associate Professor, Department of Management, Monash University and a founding member of the Accountability Round Table.
He has taken a close interest in the OGP, proposed commitments during the consultation phase, attended the PM&C ‘co-creation’ workshop in Canberra on 11 April and provided other input since.
Ken is a a former Member of Parliament (Legislative Assembly, Victoria), including serving as Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet and Speaker. He established Victoria’s first Cabinet Office and had responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs policy. Details here
Our email to PM&C expressing support for his nomination is reproduced below.
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Email 24 August to PM&C
Dr Ken Coghill has informed the Steering Committee that he nominated for a position and indicated to you his availability to serve as Co-Chair.
Dr Coghill, a member of the Network but not the Steering Committee, is eminently qualified for the role. He is highly respected and brings a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience.Dr Coghill would be an outstanding selection as the CSO Co-Chair.
Members of the Network support the values, principles and goals of the OGP and are obviously keen to participate in the process to develop and finalise the draft plan.
As the Network terms of reference state:
“The AOGPN is a coalition of individuals and organisations formed in response to the Australian government decision in November 2015 to join the Open Government Partnership. The network engages with government and others on issues arising from Australian membership of the OGP. The network will provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas on areas for reform during development of the national action plan, seek to ensure the plan is developed in the true spirit of partnership, work to assist government in the determination of priorities for consideration and monitor actions taken to deliver on those commitments.The AOGPN will promote the development and implementation of ambitious open government reforms.”
A number of members other than Dr Coghill including some members of the Steering Committee have nominated or intend to nominate today for positions other than Co-Chair.
Those who nominate do so as individuals in their own right not as representatives of the Network and should be individually assessed against the published criteria:
“Experience and expertise related to supporting transparency, accountability and open government”
Each would bring their own knowledge, experience and expertise to the work of the group.
We look forward to this next stage in the partnership.
The Network shares your enthusiasm for seizing the opportunity to develop a “strong and ambitious National Action Plan that will continue Australia’s long and proud history of democracy and open government.”