Government should increase transparency

Comments on two reports in the Asutralian website today on a related topic, potential irresponsible government spendings.

The first one is by Michael Stutchbury "Brazen panel reveals truths", 30/10/2009, http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/currentaccount/index.php/theaustralian/comments/brazen_panel_reveals_truths/. It relates to the productivity commission (PC) annual report's attachment which comments on Australian government's economic policy making.

What Michael finds two points. One is that the PC's "annual report is impertinent enough to suggest that “increasing flexibility” in labour markets has become even more important in helping the economy exit the global crisis. " The other is that "the commission commends the government for its orthodox commitment to open decision-making and rigorous cost-benefit analysis in determining infrastructure priorities. But it then insolently notes that “these guidelines have not been universally applied to date, however”. "

My comments on this article is:

"Where is Rudd’s economic conservatism? It is economic recklessness, isn’t it? It is appalling that taxpayers’ money can be wasted by government like the Rudd’s.

There should be a law that government can be sued for its economic mismanagement, just like corporate executives who did the wrong things."

The second one is by Henry Ergas "Cronyism on the sly", 30/10/2009, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26277992-5013479,00.html. It is about how governments in Australia, both federal and state ones, use excuses of confidential contracts to shield some of their large spending decisions from public scrutiny. It starts with:

"EARLY this year, Victorian Transport Minister Lynne Kosky locked away until 2058 all the documents surrounding the troubled construction of Melbourne's $700 million Southern Cross Station. Were transparency and accountability thereby eliminated? No, merely deferred, though if you want to see those contracts, you'll need to keep pretty fit."

My comments for this article are the following:

"There should be law to govern the spending of public money. any government should make the relevant documents except those are classified available within 3-5 years.

Further government ministers and bureaucrats who are responsible can be sued for mismanagement of public money, just as business executives."