Note to media, journalists, and editors: Below is my analysis of the Government’s just-announced “Anti-Corruption Taskforce Pilot.” This column is, as always, available in various abridged formats for publication — just get in contact.
A sop. Blind to the log in their own eye, the Coalition Gov’t asks others (state agencies) to ‘self reflect’ and self report. “Six months”? Phhhhtttt! And the lack of any clear and explicit difference and real choice between them and the Labour Party on “transparency and corruption” signals more of the same and augurs badly for any fundamental risk analysis and systemic response, whoever gets to seize the “baubles of office”. If only the public realised that its preoccupation with “the cost of living” directly sheets back to the lack of transparency and unregulated lobbying and growing corruption settling comfortably into our way of life.
Too little, too late indeed. Limiting the focus as they have screams out "nothing to see here", which we all know is wishful thinking. I'd feel happier about the whole endeavour if there was some input from parties not in government, and while I acknowledge the improbability of coming up with a working model to include them it would likely have a few more teeth.
Thanks for this excellent analysis Bryce
A sop. Blind to the log in their own eye, the Coalition Gov’t asks others (state agencies) to ‘self reflect’ and self report. “Six months”? Phhhhtttt! And the lack of any clear and explicit difference and real choice between them and the Labour Party on “transparency and corruption” signals more of the same and augurs badly for any fundamental risk analysis and systemic response, whoever gets to seize the “baubles of office”. If only the public realised that its preoccupation with “the cost of living” directly sheets back to the lack of transparency and unregulated lobbying and growing corruption settling comfortably into our way of life.
Too little, too late indeed. Limiting the focus as they have screams out "nothing to see here", which we all know is wishful thinking. I'd feel happier about the whole endeavour if there was some input from parties not in government, and while I acknowledge the improbability of coming up with a working model to include them it would likely have a few more teeth.