Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Transparency and Accountability— Key To Effective Anti-Corruption


- Extract of a paper on Good Governance, Open and Transparency and Accountability -Australian Council for International Development, 2004

When communities operate with transparency, decisions are made and carried out in an open manner.

Transparent systems permit everyone to make informed choices, and give everyone access to information in an easily understood format.

Accountability is acting responsibly and being answerable for actions taken.

A lack of transparency and insufficient accountability creates the conditions in which corruption flourishes.

A lack of transparency in allocation of government resources, poor accountability from government and private companies to their community stakeholders, and practices that foster evasiveness are characteristics of poor governance.

This all contributes to increasing the risk of corrupt practices. Good governance is a means addressing the results of corruption, but also must deal with the underlying reasons that cause corruption.

Readily available access to public information is essential to good governance and a tool against corruption

CITY OF MELBOURNE

The City of Melbourne MUST demonstrate a commitment to maintaining Open and Transparent public accountably.

It MUST ensure that information is readily available and accessible.

Publication of public documents and accounts are essential weapon to fighting corruption.

What has the City of Melbourne administration got to hide?

Why has the "Travel Register" a public document required under law, previously published its internet site, been withdrawn and hidden away from public scrutiny.



QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

WHY HAS THE ELECTED COUNCIL NOT ACTED TO ENSURE THIS INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE.

IS THERE A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE AND AVOIDANCE OR JUST INCOMPETENCE?

THE INTERNET IS AN EFFECTIVE AND VALUABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND MEANS OF COMBATING CORRUPTION THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE EMBRACED THIS TECHNOLOGY AS A MEANS OF DISSEMINATING BY THE MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL

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