Tasmanians for Transparency has received the endorsement of former state government officials Dr Jocelyn Scutt, Dr Patmalar Ambikapathy Thuraisingham and Mr Barry Greenberry for our 12 Point Plan for Honest Government in Tasmania.
Former Premier David Bartlett’s 10 Point Plan Strengthening trust in democracy, released in May 2008, has been a dismal failure. With the numerous controversies involving the Justice Department and the Tasmanian Integrity Commission it has become apparent that we now need to make some radical changes to accountability and effectiveness of our government oversight agencies and greater transparency with government information, including under Right to Know legislation.
Tasmania’s consistently poor social, economic and environmental standing can be put down to decades of poor governance, mediocre leadership, nepotism, cronyism and systemic corruption. A community of 500,000 humans has been bullied into a mendicancy controlled by vested interests and some very powerful unelected gatekeepers. The people have been intimidated into silence that sees good public money repeatedly squandered by the few to benefit the interests of a select group of well-established recipients. This system cannot be changed by tinkering with a failed system.
With the benefit of hindsight, the community can see that numerous calls on the State Government to be transparent and to conduct appropriate inquiries into one issue or another have fallen on deaf ears. Recent high profile examples are the controversial conviction and sentencing of Sue Neill-Fraser, and the premature resignation from the prison service of Barry Greenberry
There are too few politicians raising the critical issues that are holding honest government back in Tasmania, and the community cannot depend solely on politicians to effect change. Citizens need to join together to understand and critique the processes and systems involved in government if we truly want to make governments accountable and transparent.
Dr Jocelyn Scutt, Tasmania’s first Anti Discrimination Commissioner, said: “Transparency, integrity and respect are vital to democracy and good governance. They are – they should be – integral to government. Tasmania and Tasmanians have a right to be honoured, in principle and in practice, by these truths. In their absence, the whole community is diminished. The 12 Point Plan proposed to ensure that Tasmania and Tasmanians have a system of government and administration they can trust is an important step. The confidence of the people is fundamental and the 12 Point Plan aims to regain the people’s confidence.”
Dr Patmalar Ambikapathy Thuraisingham, former Tasmanian Commissioner for Children, said: “Congratulations and best wishes to Tasmanians for Transparency. Speaking as a barrister who has practised in Malaysia, I can sniff corruption easily, after practice in England I have seen how patronage and feudalism can defeat justice. Both these evils plague Tasmania and we will not achieve due process in all systems without the upsurge of civil society in a Tasmanian Spring. When I was Tasmania’s first children’s commissioner I demanded integrity, independence and impartiality and this inevitably caused the demise of the appointment as arguments for much needed change were too challenging for entrenched systems. Conflict of interest and patronage are riddled in the system and allow for evasion of obligations to benefit a few at the expense of most, especially the most vulnerable. These cavalier attitudes need redress and remedy if equity and fair play are to replace them.”
Former Director of Risdon Prison, Barry Greenberry, said: “Tasmanians for Transparency has a serious message which I support. Tasmania is fortunate to have Statesmen and Women across the political divide who will make Parliament strong, hold the powerful to account and have the courage to establish an independent corruption commission with authority. The Tasmanians For Transparency plan enables voters to tell the Statesmen and Women from the politicians.”
The most important foundation of a democracy is a government’s capacity to be open, ethical and truthful in its communications and the provision of information to its electors.
Tasmanians for Transparency supports citizens taking action in our democracy and so we have developed a 12 Point Plan for Honest Government and Justice in Tasmania and will be asking candidates in the forthcoming state election for their support.
12 POINT PLAN FOR HONEST GOVERNMENT IN TASMANIA
1. Establish an Independent Commission Against Corruption that is transparent, and properly resourced, structured, and empowered, and based on a proven model, to replace the Tasmanian Integrity Commission.
2. Introduce stronger, workable and usable protections for whistleblowers and compensation provisions for any person harmed by the actions of government.
3. Establish an independent Office for Witness and Whistleblower Protection.
4. Establish a Commission of Inquiry into the Sue Neill-Fraser and Barry Greenberry cases, and any allegations of misconduct in the Justice Department.
5. Establish a Criminal Justice Reform Taskforce to review recommendations made by a Commission of Inquiry into the Sue Neill-Fraser case, to expedite the urgent reforms necessary to the criminal justice system.
6. Introduce legislation for greater transparency and accountability for Tasmania Police, including the publication of the Tasmanian Police Manual, as required by the Police Service Act 2003, section 93.
7. Undertake a comprehensive overhaul of State Executive Service positions, and powers, accountability and tenure within Tasmania’s oversight agencies and government departments, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
8. Legislate for mandatory publication of: all reports by companies and consultants provided to government under compliance obligations of statutory regulatory bodies, such as exist in other jurisdictions; and all documentation concerning commercial dealings with government.
9. Amend Right to Information legislation, and the Archives Act and review the discretionary powers of the Ombudsman on deemed refusals in RTI applications.
10. Establish an independent Public Interest Advocacy Centre, to replace the Environmental Defenders Office, liaising with an Independent Police Complaints Advocate and Prison Inspector.
11. Mandate the independence of the Environment Protection Authority and Workplace Standards Tasmania as offices accountable to the Parliament of Tasmania.
12. Inclusion of ethics and responsible citizenship in the schools’ curricula.
Tasmanians for Transparency was launched in May 2007 and is a network of individuals who are committed to the principles of open government. We understand that good governance depends on a fully resourced public service, transparent processes as well as independent watchdog bodies willing to make governments accountable.
Email: [email protected]
