Labour’s Open Government policy
November 18th, 2011 at 3:28 pm by David FarrarLabour have released their open government policy. Readers may recall I attended one of their open meetings discussing what could go into the policy.
There is quite a lot of good stuff in the policy, but first I need to point out the huge wriggle room they have left. The policy is more a “we may do this” than “we will do this”:
The draft principles set out above are an ideal-world and ambitious charter for driving change in the practices of government at all levels.
Implementing policy that gives effect to such principles can only happen incrementally over time.
Even so, Labour acknowledges that the changes this policy sets out are challenging to some parts of government, and to the existing operational approach of the public sector.
That is why a carefully considered implementation is important, with ample time for public debate on the principles, and consultation and reflection before any changes are made.
I thought the consultation and public debate had already happened. Wasn’t that the point of the exercise?
Labour will produce a comprehensive “Open Government Charter”, based on the draft principles set out above, and seek public consultation and discussion to inform future decisions about how to open up government.
The Charter will include as matters for consultation the following specific suggestions, most of which emerged from the OpenLabourNZ process
So all the suggestions, remain just that – suggestions. Would it have been that difficult to at least commit to a couple of them?
Now having a “we might do it” policy is better than no policy at all, so I do still think it is a good thing they have this policy, and I hope the next Government, regardless of which party is in power, looks to implement the good policy proposals there, such as:
Establish as default practice Ministers and government agencies releasing all Cabinet papers and other relevant papers onto a dedicated website, in line with the Official Information Act (the Act), once a decision is announced by government. Exceptions will apply for security or commercially sensitive information and other areas already set out in the Act, with the usual request and appeal processes continuing to apply where the
government does not release papers by default.
This is one I have personally championed. What I see is a www.oia.govt.nz website where all Cabinet level information is placed automatically, and also all OIA requests of any nature are placed. At present lots of information is released, but only to the requester, which means others can not benefit from it.
Work towards publishing or broadcasting all public Parliamentary proceedings (such as Select Committees) over the Internet and digital television.
Would be great to be able to see MPs at their best, rather than merely in the House where often it is at their worst.
Develop a trial of online voting in local government and general elections.
Hopefully there will be a trial for the 2013 local body elections, if the bureaucrats don’t manage to suffocate the process.
There’s also some good stuff on open data and software.
UPDATE: No Right Turn blogs:
The big criticism? It doesn’t go far enough, especially in the latter. For example, there’s no suggestion of bringing Parliament under the OIA, to allow proper transparency around MPs expenses (or indeed, a public right to access its proceedings and oversee its administration). Despite the high degree of public input, this is still an open government policy written by and in the interests of politicians, who benefit from secrecy in these areas. Still, it is much better than anything else on offer in this area, and deserves our support (while of course demanding more).
I am in favour of the expenses part of the The Parliamentary Service being subject to the OIA. I don’t think the entire PS can come in under the OIA as MPs and their staff need to be able to have private conversations and e-mails, but the aspects relating to the use of public money certainly could be.
The alternative is my suggestion that all Government agencies must list on a searchable website all payments over a minimal amount.
November 18th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I don’t see why open software is part of a policy on open government. Apart from sharing the word “open” they aren’t connected. And why emphasise open and free in software procurement rather than all procurement? There is nothing to stop government procurement prioritising procurement of physical devices that have not been patented or where the patent is expired.
But then this was probably written by Clare Curran. One moment she is promoting open software. The next she is raving about her new iDevice, ignoring the fact that it is the most closed and proprietary of IT platforms. When ever she blogs about IT issues you get the idea that she really doesn’t understand what she is talking about.
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
As opposed to the other analog type of Television??,
I mean by the time labour get anywhere near the levers of power again, there ain’t gonna be anything but Digital TV,
I mean whoever edited that PR should have just dumped that unneeded technical description and just said TV, or Freeview or whatever the heck they actually meant..
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Fair point – start with transparency before you get there if that’s how you intend government to be.
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
This is bullshit. How about the labour party opening up what takes place in their caucus room. Or discussions in their shadow cabinet. They could do that now. Everything else is film flam.
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Where did I hear that before?
Oh wait, “The Most Transparent Administration evah!” from Obama.
“My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.”
We can see how that turned out.
Solyndra, LightSquared, and Fast and Furious……..
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts and socialists making promises.
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
I do not have personal knowledge of it but I have been told by someone who worked in the National Archives that Helen Clark handed over her Government papers to the archives only on the condition that they were sealed and not allowed to be released for one hundred years!
Now that is what I call real open government.
I also remember that when Phil Goff claimed that Don Brash had told the Americans that the nuclear policy would “be gone by lunchtime” he refused to release the document he claimed to be quoting from.
Vote:The Wikileaks material would appear to indicate that he was lying as the quoted material there said that no-one had heard any such remark.
Perhaps Phil, in the interests of Open Government, will request that the material held in Government files should immediately be released.
November 18th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
How about including the following to help ensure more ‘open government’?
Make it a lawful requirement for a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’ for NZ Central Government staff responsible for property and procurement, (including the Ministry of Health), in order to help prevent ‘conflicts of interest’.
Make it a lawful requirement for a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’ for NZ Local Government staff, and Directors and staff employed by ‘Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs) responsible for property and procurement.
Make it a lawful requirement for details of ‘contracts issued’ – including the name of the contractor; scope, term and value of the contract to be published in NZ Central Government Public Sector, and Local Government (Council), and ‘Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) Annual Reports so that they are available for public scrutiny.
Make it a lawful requirement that a ‘cost-benefit analysis’ of NZ Central Government, and Local Government public finances be undertaken to prove that private procurement of public services previously provided ‘in-house’ is cost-effective for the public majority. If not – then return public service provision to staff directly employed ‘in-house’ and cut out these private contractors who are effectively dependent on ‘corporate welfare’.
Penny Bright
Independent Candidate for Epsom
waterpressure@gmail.com
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACTION PLAN TO PREVENT CORRUPTION – ‘WHITE COLLAR’ CRIME & ‘CORPORATE WELFARE’ IN NZ, AND HELP ENSURE GENUINELY ‘OPEN GOVERNMENT’ :
Any of the political parties / candidates promoting any of the following?
1. Get our anti-corruption domestic legislative framework in place so NZ can ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption.
2. Set up an NZ independent anti-corruption body tasked with educating the public and PREVENTING corruption.
3. Change NZ laws to ensure genuine transparency in the funding of candidates for elected public office and political parties at central government level.
4. Legislate for an enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for NZ Members of Parliament (who make the rules for everyone else).
5. Make it an offence under the Local Government Act 2002 for NZ Local Government elected representatives to breach their ‘Code of Conduct’.
6. Make it a lawful requirement for a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’ for NZ Local Government elected representatives.
7. Make it a lawful requirement for a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’ for NZ Central Government staff responsible for property and procurement, (including the Ministry of Health), in order to help prevent ‘conflicts of interest’.
8. Make it a lawful requirement for a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’ for NZ Local Government staff, and Directors and staff employed by ‘Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs) responsible for property and procurement.
9. Make it a lawful requirement for details of ‘contracts issued’ – including the name of the contractor; scope, term and value of the contract to be published in NZ Central Government Public Sector, and Local Government (Council), and ‘Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) Annual Reports so that they are available for public scrutiny.
10. Make it a lawful requirement that a ‘cost-benefit analysis’ of NZ Central Government, and Local Government public finances be undertaken to prove that private procurement of public services previously provided ‘in-house’ is cost-effective for the public majority. If not – then return public service provision to staff directly employed ‘in-house’ and cut out these private contractors who are effectively dependent on ‘corporate welfare’.
11. Legislate for a legally-enforcable ‘Code of Conduct’ for members of the NZ Judiciary, to ensure they are not ‘above the law’.
12. Ensure that ALL NZ Court proceedings are recorded, and audio records made available to parties who request them.
13. Make it a lawful requirement for a publicly-available NZ Judicial ‘Register of Interests’, to help prevent ‘conflicts of interest’.
14. Make it a lawful requirement for a publicly-available NZ ‘Register of Lobbyists’ at Central Government Ministerial level.
15. Make it a lawful requirement at NZ Central and Local Government level for a ‘post-separation employment quarantine’ period from the time officials leave the public service to take up a similar role in the private sector. (Help stop the ‘revolving door’).
16. Make it a lawful requirement that it is only a binding vote of the public majority that can determine whether public assets held at NZ Central or Local Government level are sold; or long-term leased via Public-Private –Partnerships (PPPs).
17. Make it unlawful for politicians to knowingly misrepresent their policies prior to election at central or local government level.
18. Make laws to protect individuals, NGOs and community-based organisations who are ‘whistleblowing’ against ‘conflicts of interest’ and corrupt practices at central and local government level and within the judiciary.
19. Legislate to help stop ‘State Capture’, a form of ‘grand corruption’ arguably endemic in NZ – where vested interests get their way at the ‘policy level’ before legislation is passed which serves their interests.
Penny Bright, Independent Candidate for Epsom 2011
waterpressure@gmail.com
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Jesus woman. I just congratulated you on your shortest ever KB comment and you post this diatribe!!!!
Pheww!
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
@PG yeah I saw that new United Future policy and have to agree with it – independent costing would make the election more about policy and give people a chance to vote for realistic ideas.
Also, Goff wouldn’t keep looking like such an idiot – I’m feeling sorry for him. But I don’t pity vote. Or pity bang. Goff will get niether a vote nor a bang from me.
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
I don’t even need to read your post before slagging off the shitbag party.
I was attracted by the headline and immediately thought of the fuckwitt Goff’s repudiation of the multi-partisan agreement regarding electoral reform.
The Rena Party’s plans for open government seem somewhat less than credible in light of its inability to even stick with what it has agreed and its record of lying and legislating on significant issues that do not have any electoral mandate including, but without limitation to, the abolition of constitutional rights and the theft of public money.
I am no longer interested in what the fuckwit Goff has to say. He and his sad-arsed deceitful lying and morally bankrupt miscreant partners in organised crime sit quite rightfully at the bottom of the dog turd of political existence.
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
freddos says:
“I’m feeling sorry for him”
Why do you fell sorry for him? He is a lying piece of shit. Everything he says is a lie. 25% return on the super fund? Managed funds not even making the call deposit rate. The Cullen fund returning less than the ten year govt bond rate. These are lies from just the last fortnight. Don’t start me on teacupgate …
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
PS
Disclosure: I do not like the fuckwit Goff and the Rena Party.
Vote:November 18th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Perhaps you should encourage freddos to give him a good banging then Leonardo.
At least it would give Goofy a reason for the tightly pursed lips routine.
Vote: