21st July 2017 – News
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet this afternoon announced the membership of the Open Government Forum (Commitment 5.1). Congratulations and best wishes to the new group as they lead on the open government journey. Civil Society members are: Ms Fiona McLeod SC, President, Law Council of Australia (Co-Chair) (continuing, having been a member of…
11th July 2017 – Uncategorised
Published on the AUSPUBLAW Blog today Australia’s commitment to open government reform 11/07/2017 / AUSPUBLAW / 0 COMMENTS BY PETER TIMMINS The voters aren’t happy. While there is no single antidote for this winter of discontent, the way government governs is a contributing factor. The government tells us that belief in democracy is a shared Australian value and as part…
16th June 2017 – News, Uncategorised
The two new civil society members to join the international Steering Committee are Giorgi Kldiashvili Director of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), an NGO based in Georgia, and Tur-Od Lkhagvajav who holds several leading civil society positions in Mongolia. Congratulations to both, and thanks to Ken Coghill, current Chairman of the…
15th June 2017 – Information, News, Points of View
Australia’s first Open Government National Action Plan (2016-18) is a series of reforms that include some ambitious commitments, that set the stage for potentially transformative outcomes for citizens. These include “transforming our information access laws, policies and practices are modern and appropriate for the digital information age”, “building public trust around data sharing and release”,…
9th June 2017 – Uncategorised
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has announced details of the establishment of the Open Government Forum and called for civil society nominations by 22 June. (Commitment 5.1 in Australia’s National Action Plan.) The Selection Panel to consider nominations and make recommendations to government on appointment will consist of the Co-Chairs of the Interim…
9th June 2017 – Points of View
Interview published in OGP Newsletter June 2017 Faces of Open Government Australia | 8 June 2017 How did you get involved in open government – what is your personal story about why you joined the movement? I became aware of the Open Government Partnership the day after the inaugural meeting in New York on 20…
31st May 2017 – News, Points of View
When the Interim Working Group agreed to go ahead with a plan to establish a Multistakeholder Forum by the end of June, I said it would be ambitious. It’s still ambitious. And it’s still doable. From here, at least, it does look like it’s still on track. On Wednesday 17 May, Department of the Prime Minister and…
31st May 2017 – Points of View, Uncategorised
Jessie Cato, Publish What You Pay – Australia This post was previously published on the Devpolicy Blog and Extractafact. Tracking Australian mining, oil and gas companies around the world is challenging. Australia has one of the largest global footprints of extractives companies operating abroad. Research by Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Australia and ESG research house CAER in September…
25th May 2017 – News
The Mexican Core Group of CSOs have pulled out of the national OGP National Action Plan process following the discovery of illegal surveillance of a number of people affiliated with members of the group. Read their notification. It’s big news, for example in the New York Times as well as Mexico The OGP issued this…
23rd May 2017 – News
Media release- Australian Press Council 19 May 2017 “The Australian Press Council has awarded its Press Freedom Medal to two outstanding individuals for their major contributions to ensuring a free and open society: Peter Timmins – Australian Open Government Partnership Network and Michael Cameron – News Corp Australia. The 2017 Press Freedom Medals were awarded…