Extract from The Guardian
Fifty prominent signatories including Alan Jones and Barry Jones call
on parties to adopt accountability principles proposed by Tony
Fitzgerald
The broadcaster Alan Jones,
as well as a former editor of the News Corp Australia tabloid the
Courier-Mail and a former federal Labor science minister have declared
democracy in Queensland is being eroded by government links to
lobbyists.
An open letter, distributed by the Australia Institute, calls on the Queensland government to adopt principles of accountability and good governance proposed by Tony Fitzgerald, the man who headed Queensland’s landmark corruption inquiry in the late 1980s.
“The erosion of accountability and transparency has damaged democracy in Queensland,” the letter begins. “Successive governments have become too close to industry lobbyists and representatives, particularly from the resources industry, undermining public trust in the political process.
“The current government has weakened Queensland’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Crime and Corruption Commission, and used its almost unlimited constitutional power to legislate without regard to proportionality or individual liberties.”
Among the 50 prominent Australians to sign the letter are Alan Jones, Greg Chamberlin, who was the editor of the Courier-Mail from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, when it reported on police corruption which helped lead to the Fitzgerald inquiry, and the former Labor minister Barry Jones.
Representatives from the anti-coal seam gas group, Lock the Gate, the Wilderness Society, the University of Queensland and former Queensland integrity commissioner, Gary Crooke QC, were also signatories to the letter, which outlined four key principles for the government to adhere to.
The Australia Institute sent the letter to the Liberal National party, the Australian Labor party, the Australian Greens, Katter’s Australian party and the Palmer United party. All have responded except the LNP.
“The LNP’s failure to commit to these basic and surely uncontroversial principles of good governance or even to explain why it won’t is capable of only two interpretations,” Fitzgerald said. “It either intends to continue to act inconsistently with the fundamentals of good governance or it considers that the public is not entitled to know how it plans to govern, if elected.
“It seems obvious that many voters will find the LNP’s present stance objectionable.”
The principles the parties were asked to commit to are:
1. Govern for the peace, welfare and good government of the state.
2. Make all decisions and take all actions, including public appointments, in the public interest without regard to personal, party political or other immaterial considerations.
3. Treat all people equally without permitting any person or corporation special access or influence.
4. Promptly and accurately inform the public of its reasons for all significant or potentially controversial decisions and actions.
Labor’s response, sent by deputy leader of the opposition, Tim Mulherin, agreed to all four principles.
“Like all Queenslanders, Labor does not want to see the corruption and cronyism of the past return to Queensland,” Mulherin wrote. “We will never allow this to occur. It was the opaque approach to past government decision-making processes that contributed to this. Openness and transparency in government decision making is integral to good government.”
He said subject to some “limited constraints”, a future Labor government would “promptly and accurately” inform the public of all reasons for significant and potentially controversial decisions.
The Palmer United party’s federal leader, Clive Palmer, and Queensland state leader, John Bjelke-Petersen, emailed the Australia Institute and said they supported the principles “100%”.
Katter’s Australian party sent a lengthy list of its core values and principles, which included voting or governing in favour of peace and welfare.
“The principles espoused by Mr Fitzgerald are motherhood statements which it is felt that all parties and candidates in Queensland will agree with in principle,” the KAP letter said. “Even those parties or individuals who we believe will totally disregard the principles would never admit to disagreeing with the actual principles. We stand by our core values and principles.”
An open letter, distributed by the Australia Institute, calls on the Queensland government to adopt principles of accountability and good governance proposed by Tony Fitzgerald, the man who headed Queensland’s landmark corruption inquiry in the late 1980s.
“The erosion of accountability and transparency has damaged democracy in Queensland,” the letter begins. “Successive governments have become too close to industry lobbyists and representatives, particularly from the resources industry, undermining public trust in the political process.
“The current government has weakened Queensland’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Crime and Corruption Commission, and used its almost unlimited constitutional power to legislate without regard to proportionality or individual liberties.”
Among the 50 prominent Australians to sign the letter are Alan Jones, Greg Chamberlin, who was the editor of the Courier-Mail from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, when it reported on police corruption which helped lead to the Fitzgerald inquiry, and the former Labor minister Barry Jones.
Representatives from the anti-coal seam gas group, Lock the Gate, the Wilderness Society, the University of Queensland and former Queensland integrity commissioner, Gary Crooke QC, were also signatories to the letter, which outlined four key principles for the government to adhere to.
The Australia Institute sent the letter to the Liberal National party, the Australian Labor party, the Australian Greens, Katter’s Australian party and the Palmer United party. All have responded except the LNP.
“The LNP’s failure to commit to these basic and surely uncontroversial principles of good governance or even to explain why it won’t is capable of only two interpretations,” Fitzgerald said. “It either intends to continue to act inconsistently with the fundamentals of good governance or it considers that the public is not entitled to know how it plans to govern, if elected.
“It seems obvious that many voters will find the LNP’s present stance objectionable.”
The principles the parties were asked to commit to are:
1. Govern for the peace, welfare and good government of the state.
2. Make all decisions and take all actions, including public appointments, in the public interest without regard to personal, party political or other immaterial considerations.
3. Treat all people equally without permitting any person or corporation special access or influence.
4. Promptly and accurately inform the public of its reasons for all significant or potentially controversial decisions and actions.
Labor’s response, sent by deputy leader of the opposition, Tim Mulherin, agreed to all four principles.
“Like all Queenslanders, Labor does not want to see the corruption and cronyism of the past return to Queensland,” Mulherin wrote. “We will never allow this to occur. It was the opaque approach to past government decision-making processes that contributed to this. Openness and transparency in government decision making is integral to good government.”
He said subject to some “limited constraints”, a future Labor government would “promptly and accurately” inform the public of all reasons for significant and potentially controversial decisions.
The Palmer United party’s federal leader, Clive Palmer, and Queensland state leader, John Bjelke-Petersen, emailed the Australia Institute and said they supported the principles “100%”.
Katter’s Australian party sent a lengthy list of its core values and principles, which included voting or governing in favour of peace and welfare.
“The principles espoused by Mr Fitzgerald are motherhood statements which it is felt that all parties and candidates in Queensland will agree with in principle,” the KAP letter said. “Even those parties or individuals who we believe will totally disregard the principles would never admit to disagreeing with the actual principles. We stand by our core values and principles.”
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