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: 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…
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Read more: Ministers’ diaries should be made public
Ministers’ diaries should be made public
18 March 2024 A question that should be asked in Wednesday’s Tasmanian election leaders’ debate: will you commit to making ministers’ diaries public? Given the record of both major parties, the answer is likely to be a prevarication. Accountability is fundamental for a healthy democracy which is why the major parties should commit to making…
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Read more: Minority governments: the facts
Minority governments: the facts
25 February 2024 Tasmanians have nothing to fear from a minority government. The major party leaders have made their usual declarations they will govern in majority or not at all. The Liberal and Labor parties warn of the perils of minority governments: they are unstable, unreliable and unable to get anything done. Getting things done…
Tasmanian Constitution Society 