Blog
Welcome to our blog where you can keep up to date on our thoughts about
governance, democracy, accountability and transparency in Tasmania.
Click on the headline to read more.
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Read more: Parliament working
Parliament working
17 December 2024 Tumultuous times It’s been a tumultuous time for the government but a great one for the parliament. There was Australia’s biggest infrastructure debacle, the huge budget deficit and the continuing health crisis. The government’s commitment continued to our priorities of accountability, democracy and transparency continued to be questionable. Forty percent of Right…
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Read more: Doomsayers proved wrong
Doomsayers proved wrong
17 December 2024 It’s been a tumultuous time for the Tasmanian minority Liberal government but a great one for the parliament. Parliament’s roles include keeping the executive to account and passing legislation and on both counts Tasmania’s 51st parliament has succeeded. The same cannot be said for the government and opposition. Debacle The government oversaw…
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Read more: Get accountability on board
Get accountability on board
Government accountability is a pillar of democracy and when it is eroded, democracy is eroded. A convention of the Westminster system of government is ministerial responsibility. A minister is responsible for her or his department – or government business enterprise – and a departmental failure is a ministerial failure. The consequence is the minister’s resignation. Another…
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Read more: More integrity please
More integrity please
12 July 2024 Premier Rockliff’s announcement this week that the government will implement all the Wiess inquiry recommendations is welcome. One of the recommendations is to change the Integrity Commission’s Act so allegations against police are independently investigated. The government should take the opportunity to improve the Commission’s effectiveness. The director of the Centre for Public Integrity, Geoffrey…
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Read more: JLN’s watershed
JLN’s watershed
The Jacqui Lambie Network will go the same way as other eponymous political organisations, such as Paul Hanson’s One Nation. Confirmation came with the announcement the JLN trio had signed an agreement on 10 April with Premier Rockliff which displayed the trio’s self-confessed inexperience and naivety. Senator Lambie has said she will mentor and guide the…
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Read more: Political donations: candidates don’t care
Political donations: candidates don’t care
Most candidates seeking election on 23 March don’t care about political donations laws, a Tasmanian Constitution Society survey of candidates has found. Only 34 of the record 167 candidates responded to the survey. But all those who responded supported: reducing the donation reporting limit from $5000 to $1000; making donations of more than $1000 public…
Tasmanian Constitution Society 