Legitimacy of stakeholders in the development of public policy

I'Ve just been watching on 24 ABC an interesting topic on the above.

It seems to me that most of the information that was divulged on the show (no disrespect to the show) was pretty much already well known by most astute observers and the decade old cry for the curtailment of polictical lobbyist access to ministerial office advisors or HOD was a clear indicator most of the general public saw the illegitmacy of of most of the high profile ie paid for PR advocates of vested interests simply an extension of the platform Howard used to prop up his faltering hegemony in the later half of the 90's early 00's.


I'm astounded that the issue has only now been given some form of credibilty in MSM because of pheriperal interest given to the issue by a couple of paper hacks. None the less, if this brings more focus on an issue that is singularly one of the most complex issues concerning the engagement of the wider public in the formulation of government policy which almost always diametrically opposes the pestilent noxious baying of psuedo industry representative groups more often than not populated with PART POLITICAL hacks and idealogues, appartchiks and others who covertly represent vested financial interested parties.

What is needed as a start is a PUBLIC register (free, and I mean no financial costs involved for access and information, not just free to enquire) of all political party members, lobby group members, incorporated representative body board members, trust directors of political party donators, appointments made to directorships of all public utilies without usual due PS appointment process appointments such as QUANGO's - for a start.

I mean we have regulations up the hooha for security guards working in all states of Oz. If any of those peeps working in the industry are seen to be misbehaving then their details can be pulled and investigations are made by hte appropriate authorities.

Why shouldn't that be the case with lobbyists and other groups that are supposedly making representations to high level government HOD and Ministers over issues that concern the wellbeing of all Oz? There should also be a freely accessible database log detailing time and date, what lobbyists and representative groups are meeting with HOD's and Ministers - released on a daily basis. That way policy formulation process not only "legitamises" stakeholders through acknowledgement in the development of policy but accords through transparency a platform where equitable access to miniaters and HOD can be evaluated and appraised freely by all stakeholders - particularly those interested in ensuring open equitable public policy formulation........... 


pardon the typos
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