Australia’s commitment to Open Government has taken a step forward with the official endorsement of the nation’s Second Open Government National Action Plan, designed to increase the openness and accountability of the public sector.
Following the First Open Government Plan adopted in December 2016, the new Plan covers the period 2018-20 and consists of a new set of commitments that further open up government to realise the values of the international Open Government Partnership and enhance access to information, civic participation, openness and accountability.
Releasing the new Plan, the Minister for the Public Service, Senator Mathias Cormann said the second Plan contained a more targeted and focused set of commitments and sought to find new and innovative ways to ways to build greater openness and transparency into citizens’ everyday interaction with government.
“Alongside initiatives to strengthen anti-corruption and to enhance electoral transparency, this new plan includes a number of new initiatives to ensure government is able to deliver better and more transparent outcomes for the Australian community,” Senator Cormann said.
He said the new initiatives included exploring ways the Government and the Public Service can adopt more place-based approaches to their work; Involving the States and Territories in the promotion of Open Government values and principles; and
Enhancing the ability for the public to engage in the work of the Public Service.
Senator Cormann said Australia had been a member of the international Open Government Partnership since 2015 and since then had taken great strides to improve transparency, accountability and public engagement in many facets of government.
“I am confident that this second National Action Plan will help to continue this trend and reinforce Australia’s position as a global leader in the field of openness and accountability,” he said.
In addition to the initiatives set out by the Minister, Australia’s Second National Action Plan will also focus on improving the sharing, use and reuse of public sector data; engaging Australians in the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service; and
expanding open contracting and due diligence in procurement.
Australia’s 32-page Second Open Government National Action Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
