The composition of the next federal parliament will likely offer an unprecedented opportunity for transformational progress on transparency, integrity and democracy reforms. The Australian Democracy Network, Centre for Public Integrity and Transparency International Australia intend to be ready from day one of the new parliament to secure key wins. These three organisations have shared priorities and a strategy. To turbo-charge their advocacy they are looking to raise a combined $750,000 by election day. This will equip their distinct, but highly complementary, contributions with the level of resourcing needed to grasp this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Opportunity

Looking ahead, there is a high likelihood that the next parliament will be made up of a minority government with a crossbench the size and diversity of which we have not seen before. While it is exceedingly rare that integrity reforms are taken up willingly by governments, we have seen the current crossbench prove their commitment to democracy and push hard for accountability and transparency in policy making. When government works properly, change becomes possible. Even if a minority government doesn’t eventuate, we know that to win big, ambitious reform we need to be on track within the first year of the Parliamentary term — the key window of opportunity for us to build the momentum needed to secure ambitious reform. 

Given this likely unprecedented parliament, we have a critical window over the next year to secure transformational wins to:

1. Fix electoral laws to reduce the influence of big business on elections and even the playing field between Independents, challengers & major parties; and ensure charities can still meaningfully participate in public debates around elections. 

2. Reduce undue corporate influence by making lobbying transparent,  stopping the revolving door between industry and government, and shining a light on who our elected representatives are meeting with and when. This ensures that people being appointed to senior government roles are there on merit, and that when they leave office they can't just sweep into lucrative roles in the industries they were just regulating.

3. Better protect whistleblowers who expose corruption and wrongdoing, so that they aren’t punished with job losses, lawsuits and prosecutions for speaking up in the public interest. Establishing a new Whistleblower Protection Authority is critical to achieving this.

4. Stop pork-barrelling by reforming how decisions are made on government grants, so that limited public funds go to where they're most needed instead of being wasted for political gain.

5. Update parliamentary process to better support the growing frequency of minority governments. The public are increasingly wanting a more diverse parliament, but the current way legislation is made assumes a major party has control of the parliament. Changes are needed to ensure that political representation and public policy effectiveness is enhanced under minority governments.

Australian Democracy Network, Centre for Public Integrity and Transparency International Australia have assessed that this list of key, shared priorities is politically possible in the first year of the next parliamentary term. Success depends on their readiness  to support parliamentary champions who rely on civil society to develop policy, write model legislation, build public support and negotiate with parliamentary colleagues. We don’t know if or when this opportunity will arise again, and we need to be ready to seize it. 

Each of these organisations is distinct in the political relationships they hold, the areas of policy and research expertise they have, and the media, campaigning and collective power that they bring to this strategic collaboration. Their distinct, but highly complementary contributions will be essential in sharing the immense task ahead in this first year of the 48th Parliament. 

Together, they need $750,000 by election day to resource their three organisations or we risk letting this once-in-a-generation opportunity pass us by. They are well-positioned and strategically ready, they just need boots on the ground in time for Day One of the next parliament. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to their joint appeal. 

Ready to give?

Contact tambelin@mannifera.org.au for bank account and receipting details, or with any questions about this appeal.