An end to Australia's long silence on the Open Government Partnership?

It should be a no-brainer.

Since this unique multilateral government and civil society initiative was launched by President Obama at the UN in September 2011, 58 countries have joined. (One, Russia has just left.)  But Australia is yet to respond to Hillary Clinton's invitation to sign up or reply to UK Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude who raised the issue with us in January this year.

OGP member countries share a commitment to increase the availability of information about governmental activities, to support civic participation in government, to implement the highest standards of professional integrity through ant-corruption and other measures, and to utilise new technologies to disseminate government information and data.

Governments pursue these goals in partnership with civil society internationally and at home through a practical national action plan.

Close friends Indonesia and the UK currently co-chair the OGP. Korea and the Philippines are other members from this region.

In February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Carr said he supported in principle Australia joining. Membership had been proposed by Attorney General Roxon last year. Australian Information Commissioner Professor McMillan has said Australian membership is inevitable, only a matter of time.

The opportune time is now.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Global Conference, Beyond Transparency gets underway in Sydney tomorrow.

The OGP and the EITI share interests in transparency and have complimentary goals. EITI requires companies to disclose what they pay and governments to disclose what they receive. Many OGP members including the United States list the EITI as a priority transparency and anti-corruption measure in the national action plan they commit to as a condition of membership.

Australia promotes the EITI through AusAID, and makes a sizeable financial contribution to implementation in developing countries. Domestically, the government is undertaking a pilot project and says it is not yet in a position to commit to EITI legislative obligations.

An announcement at the EITI conference of our intention to join the OGP would forcefully demonstrate more than all our words, our commitment to high standards of transparency and accountability at home and abroad.

Australia and the OGP: seize the day at Sydney EITI Conference?

Sounds as if the meetings of the Open Government Partnership in London this week were likely challenging - Toby McIntosh identified in advance these ticklish issues from a crowded agenda.

We're just onlookers of course (did we have anyone working the corridors?) until we take the plunge when the challenges will take on new relevance. 

But hopefully things have progressed regarding our intentions, through that "inter-agency group" revealed in February, since Foreign Minister Carr said yes in principle to membership, and DFAT Secretary Varghese committed to a speedy resolution and response to that letter of invitation in 2011 from Hillary Clinton still cluttering someone's intray.

In any event, glad to see in Australian IT this week, Dr Nick Tate, president of the Australian Computer Society among other important positions, query what's holding us back.

Here's a thought on how we could make a late but stylish entry to the OGP, courtesy of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Global Conference, Beyond Transparency in Sydney, May 23-24. 

A Government minister, possibly Foreign Minister Carr or Assistant Treasurer Bradbury is expected to welcome the thousand delegates from around the world.

While strong supporters of the EITI internationally, including through a sizeable cash contribution to assist implementation, the Government apparently isn't in a position at this stage to announce  a commitment to implement the EITI on home turf. 

However the complementary goals of the two initiatives and the many cross-overs of those involved with or engaged in the EITI and the OGP in many countries, means this is just the occasion for an announcement that Australia intends to join the OGP. 

An action statement to this audience, would, more than words, lift our standing as a country committed to high standards of transparency and accountability at home, and prepared to put shoulder to the wheel for this cause abroad.
 
So if you have their ear, a word or a message advocating this is the way to go to Minister Carr, Attorney General Dreyfus, Assistant Treasurer Bradbury and any others close to the seat of power might give things a nudge in the right direction.

By the way registration  for the EITI conference is free. I've signed up and look forward to meeting readers and others there. 

Maybe even one who illustrates the point about common EITI/OGP ground: Maryati Abdullah of Publish What You Pay (Indonesia), a member of the Indonesian OGP core team and one of three new members of the Open Government Partnership Steering Committee welcomed at the London meeting.

More about the EITI and Australia, EITI and OGP and our scattered voice on transparency issues generally..