Australia's first Open Government National Action PlanThis National Action Plan sets out the initial steps the Government will take in pursuit of the aim to improve and build confidence in Australian institutions and strengthen our democracy, by upholding the principles in the Open Government Declaration to: * promote transparency, fight corruption, empower citizens, and harness the power of new technologies to make government more effective and accountable; * uphold the value of openness in our engagement with citizens to improve services, manage public resources, promote innovation, and create safer communities; and * embrace principles of transparency and open government with a view toward achieving greater prosperity, well-being, and human dignity in our own country and in an increasingly interconnected world.The Plan sets out an agenda for the next two years across a broad range of important areas: * Transparency and accountability in business * Open data and digital transformation * Access to government information * Integrity in the public sector * Public participation and engagement This our first National Action Plan and the first step in an ongoing process towards more open government in Australia. One of the great strengths of the Open Government Partnership is that it promotes an iterative and continual process of improvement. The Plan provides a foundation to continue engaging with civil society to identify new initiatives and strengthen our efforts over time. There is also an opportunity going forward to work with state, territory and local governments to improve transparency and integrity at all levels of government. Commonwealth of AustraliaAU_632fb290-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3bSenator the Hon Mathias CormannMinister for FinanceOpen Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership is a multilateral initiative established in 2011 that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. Membership requires governments to work with civil society to 'co-create' a National Action Plan every two years, with independent reporting on progress. Civil society is a term used by the Partnership to broadly refer to people and organisations outside of government, including non-government organisations, business, academia, community groups and the public. Importantly, the Open Government Partnership doesn't prescribe standards that countries should follow -- rather it aims to bring governments and citizens of each country together to define their own priorities for reform. The Australian Government confirmed its membership of the Open Government Partnership in November 2015. Further information can be found at www.opengovpartnership.org. Inter-Departmental CommitteeGovernment engagement -- An Inter-Departmental Committee was established to ensure the interests of Australian Government agencies were considered in the development of the National Action Plan. This Committee was chaired by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet with participation from high level officials from the following agencies ...The Committee met four times and also considered material out-of-session, including the suggested commitments put forward by stakeholders. Government ministers were also briefed on commitments that fall within their area of responsibility and on the Open Government Partnership more broadly.Attorney-General’s DepartmentDepartment of Foreign Affairs and TradeAustralian Bureau of StatisticsDepartment of HealthAustralian Commission for Law Enforcement IntegrityDepartment of Human ServicesAustralian Electoral CommissionDepartment of Immigration and Border ProtectionAustralian Institute of Health and WelfareDepartment of Industry, Innovation and ScienceAustralian Public Service CommissionDepartment of Infrastructure and Regional DevelopmentDepartment of Agriculture and Water ResourcesDepartment of Social ServicesDepartment of Communications and the ArtsDepartment of the Prime Minister and CabinetDepartment of DefenceThe TreasuryDepartment of Education and TrainingDepartment of Veterans' AffairsDepartment of EmploymentDigital Transformation AgencyDepartment of the Environment and EnergyNational Archives of AustraliaDepartment of FinanceOffice of the Australian Information CommissionerInterim Working GroupAn Interim Working Group was established in August 2016 to provide input and help inform the drafting of the National Action Plan. This followed a pause in the consultation process, due to the 2016 federal election and the associated caretaker period. The Group comprised equal representation of senior government officials and stakeholder representatives:Dr Steven Kennedy(co-chair): Deputy Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetMs Fiona McLeod SC(co-chair): President-elect of the Law Council of AustraliaDr Stein HelgebyDeputy Secretary, Department of FinanceMr Iain AndersonDeputy Secretary, Attorney-General’s DepartmentMr Timothy PilgrimAustralian Privacy Commissioner and Acting AustralianInformation CommissionerMs Meghan QuinnDivision Head, Financial System Division, the TreasuryMs Anne LyonsAssistant Director-General, National Archives of AustraliaThe Hon. Dr Ken CoghillDeputy Chair and Treasurer of the Accountability Round TableMs Maree AdsheadCEO of Open Data Institute QueenslandMr Peter TimminsInterim Convenor of the Australian OGP Civil Society NetworkMr Mark ZirnsakDirector of Justice and International Mission, Synod of Victoria andTasmania, Uniting Church in AustraliaMs Katherine SzuminskaCo-Founder and Director of the OpenAustralia Foundation.Ms Elizabeth TyddThe NSW Information Commissioner, Ms Elizabeth Tydd, also sat as a non-votingjurisdictional member, reflecting the Commonwealth's desire to build stronger relationships with the states on open government matters.Open, transparent and accountable government will always be a cornerstone of Australia's democracy. _632fb588-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3bTo become a more agile, innovative and collaborative nation. _632fb6dc-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3bDemocracyThe Australian Government understands the importance in a democracy of open government to a strong and fair society.StrengthOpennessOpen government also fundamentally supports the Government's goal for Australia to become a more agile, innovative and collaborative nation. AgilityInnovationActionThis National Action Plan promises ambitious action across a broad spectrum of important areas for government. The Plan commits to:Transparencymore transparency and accountability in business, including better legislative protections for whistle-blowers that report misconduct in the tax and corporate sectors;AccountabilityAccessbetter access to government-held information and data, with release of high-value datasets and reforms to our information access laws;Integritystrengthening our national integrity and anti-corruption framework;Electionsundertaking a Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters inquiry into political donations and other electoral matters; andEngagementimproving the way the Commonwealth engages with the public on policy development, service delivery and decision-making.PolicyServiceDecision-MakingOpen GovernmentDelivering more open government is in our national economic, environmental and social interest, and is crucial as we seek to:Fairnessbuild a better and fairer society for all Australians and be more responsive to the expectations of the community;ResponsivenessEconomic Growthstimulate economic growth and innovation;InnovationCollaborationfoster collaboration between government, business, academia, non-government organisations and the community; andLaw Enforcementcontinue efforts to address issues of corruption, fraud and misconduct.Transparency & Accountability in BusinessEnhance Australia's reputation for responsible, transparent and accountable business practice._632fb7ea-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3biWhistle-Blower ProtectionsImprove whistle-blower protections in the tax and corporate_632fb8f8-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b1.1Whistle-BlowersTreasuryLead AgencyAustralian Taxation OfficeAustralian Securities and Investments CommissionAustralian Prudential Regulation AuthorityAttorney-General's DepartmentDepartment of the Prime Minister and CabinetAustralian AgenciesAustralian State GovernmentsAustralian Territory GovernmentsParliament of AustraliaCorporationsPeak Industry BodiesLaw Council of AustraliaTax AdvisorsLaw BodiesAccounting BodiesNon-Government OrganisationsAustralian Open Government Partnership NetworkTransparency International AustraliaAccountability Round TableBoard of TaxationAcademiaAustralia will ensure appropriate protections are in place for people who report corruption, fraud, tax evasion or avoidance, and misconduct within the corporate sector. We will do this by improving whistle-blower protections for people who disclose information about tax misconduct to the Australian Taxation Office. We will also pursue reforms to whistle-blower protections in the corporate sector, with consultation on options to strengthen and harmonise these protections with those in the public sector.OwnershipImprove transparency of information on beneficial ownership and control of companies._632fb9de-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b1.2OwnersTreasuryLead AgencyAustralian Government AgenciesAttorney General's Department , Australian Securities and Investment Commission, G20, Australian Taxation Office, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, regional partners and Australian Accounting Standards Board, state and territory governmentsNon-Government OrganisationsCompanies, peak bodies (including Law Council of Australia), non-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Partnership Network, Publish What You Pay Australia and Transparency International Australia), reporting entities under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act, FATF, Global Forum, international tax partnersAustralia will improve transparency of information on beneficial ownership and control of companies available to relevant authorities. As part of this, we will consult with the corporate sector, non-government organisations and the public on the details, scope and implementation of a beneficial ownership register for companies, as well as other options to improve beneficial ownership transparency.Extractive IndustriesEnhance disclosure of company payments and government revenues from the oil, gas and mining sectors._632fbad8-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b1.3Extractive IndustriesDepartment of Industry, Innovation and ScienceLead AgencyAustralian Government AgenciesDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, Australian Taxation Office, state and territory governmentsNon-Governmental OrganisationsNon-government organisations (including EITI International, Australian Open Government Partnership Network, Transparency International Australia, Publish What You Pay Australia) and private sector (including Minerals Council of Australia, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association and extractive industries companies) Australia will enhance disclosure of company payments and government revenues from the oil, gas and mining sectors. We will do this by implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard (including working to enhance company disclosure of payments to governments for the sale of petroleum and minerals) and by continuing to support the application of EITI principles around the world.CorporationsPrevent, detect and respond to corporate crime._632fbbfa-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b1.4CorporationsAttorney-General's Department Lead AgencyAustralian Government AgenciesACLEI, Australian Federal Police, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Treasury and Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetNon-Governmental OrganisationsIndustry, peak bodies (including Law Council of Australia), non-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Partnership Network, Accountability Round Table) and international partnersAustralia will strengthen its ability to prevent, detect and respond to corporate crime, particularly bribery of foreign public officials, money laundering, and terrorism financing. We will do this by pursuing reforms to relevant legislative frameworks, which will involve a process of public consultation.Open Data & Digital TransformationMake government data open by default and digitally transform government services._632fbd08-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3biiDatasetsRelease high-value datasets and enable data-driven innovation._632fbe20-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b2.1Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetAustralian Government Agencies Commonwealth Government agencies, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and state and territory and local governmentsNon-Governmental OrganisationsNon-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Partnership Network, Open Knowledge Foundation, Electronic Frontiers Australia, Australian Privacy Foundation), research, not-for-profit and private sectorsAustralia will continue to make more public data openly available and support its use to launch commercial and non-profit ventures, conduct research, make data-driven decisions, and solve complex problems. As part of this, we will work with the research, not-for-profit and private sectors to identify the characteristics of high-value public datasets, and to promote innovative use of data to drive social and economic outcomes.TrustBuild and maintain public trust to address concerns about data_632fbf4c-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b2.2Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetLead AgencyAustralian Bureau of StatisticsLead AgencyOffice of the Australian Information CommissionerLead AgencyAustralian Government AgenciesAttorney General’s Department, Treasury, Fair Work Ombudsman, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Department of Social Services, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Australian Taxation Office and Australian Federal Police, state and territory governmentsAustralia will build public trust around data sharing and release. We will do this by actively engaging with the public regarding how open data is being used to better communicate the benefits and understand public concerns, and we will improve privacy risk management capability across government. TransformationDigitally transform the delivery of government services._632fc08c-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b2.3Digital Transformation AgencyLead AgencyDepartment of the Prime Minister and CabinetNon-Governmental OrganisationsNon-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Partnership Network), private sector and the publicAustralia will continue to invest in digital technologies to make government services simpler, faster and cheaper, making it easier for the public to work and interact with government. We will do this by preparing a digital transformation roadmap, and establishing public dashboards to improve transparency around the performance of government services.Government InformationImprove and modernise the way in which the public accesses government information._632fc1ae-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3biiiLawsInformation management and access laws for the 21st century._632fc316-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b3.1Attorney-General's DepartmentLead AgencyAustralian Government AgenciesThe National Archives of Australia, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and the Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetNon-Governmental OrganisationsNon-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Partnership Network, Accountability Round Table, and Australian Privacy Foundation), peak bodies (including Law Council of Australia, Australian Press Council, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance), archivists, academics and researchers, journalists, and state/territory information commissionersAustralia will ensure our information access laws, policies and practices are modern and appropriate for the digital information age. As part of this, we will consider and consult on options to develop a simpler and more coherent framework for managing and accessing government information that better reflects the digital era, including the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Archives Act 1983 (Archives Act) and, where relevant, the Privacy Act 1988 (with primary focus on the Archives Act and FOI Act), which is supported by efficient and effective policies and practicesFreedom of InformationUnderstand the use of freedom of information._632fc410-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b3.2Australian Information Commissioners and OmbudsmenLead AgencyOffice of the Australian Information CommissionerAustralia will better measure and improve our understanding of the public's use of rights under freedom of information laws. We will do this by working with states and territories to develop uniform metrics on public use of freedom of information access rights, and by collecting and publishing this data.Discoverability & AccessibilityImprove the discoverability and accessibility of government data_632fc53c-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b3.3Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetLead AgencyDepartment of FinanceLead AgencyNational Archives of AustraliaLead AgencyDepartment of the Environment and Energy (DoEE)Lead AgencyAustralian Commonwealth EntitiesNon-Governmental OrganisationsData61, organisations outside of government (including Australian Library and Information Association, National Libraries of Australia and New Zealand, and Australian Policy Online)Australia will make it easier for the public to find, access and use government data and information. We will do this by making greater use of central portals, digital platforms and other tools to improve discoverability and accessibilityIntegrityImprove transparency and integrity in public sector activities to build public trust and confidence in government._632fc6a4-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3bivPublic SectorElections & PoliticsEnhance integrity and confidence in Australia's electoral system._632fc7ee-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b4.1Department of FinanceLead AgencyAustralian Electoral CommissionLead AgencyJoint Standing Committee on Electoral MattersParliament of AustraliaPolitical PartiesThe Parliamentary Committee is anticipated to engage with political parties, non-government organisations and the publicNon-Government OrganisationsThe PublicTo enhance integrity and confidence in Australia's electoral system. We will do this by working with the Parliament and the public to investigate the conduct of the 2016 election, use of technology in elections and the framework of donations to political parties and other political entities.Integrity FrameworkPrevent, detect and respond to corruption in the public sector._632fc91a-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b4.2Attorney-General's DepartmentLead AgencyAustralian Government AgenciesACLEI, Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetNon-Government OrganisationsIndustry, peak bodies (including Law Council of Australia) non-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Partnership Network) and international partnersAustralia will strengthen its ability to prevent, detect and respond to corruption in the public sector. We will do this in collaboration with the corporate sector, non-government organisations, academia and the public, including by holding the first Government Business Roundtable on Anti-Corruption in 2017. We will review the jurisdiction and capabilities of the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP)- led Fraud and Anti-Corruption Centre (FACC) with the development of each National Action Plan to ensure they can focus on protecting Commonwealth agencies from risks of corruption.ContractsEnsure transparency in government procurement and support the Open Contracting Global Principles._632fca6e-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b4.3Department of FinanceLead AgencyAustralian Commonwealth EntitiesNon-Government OrganisationsNon-government organisations (including Transparency International Australia and Publish What You Pay Australia)Australia will ensure transparency in government procurement and continue to support the Open Contracting Global Principles. As part of this, we will publicly review the Australian Government's compliance with the Open Contracting Data Standard.ParticipationImprove the way the Australian Government consults and engages with the Australian public. _632fcbc2-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3bvAustralian PublicNAPUse our Open Government National Action Plan as a platform for ongoing dialogue, collaboration and open government reform._632fcd0c-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b5.1Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetLead AgencyAustralian Commonwealth EntitiesNon-Government OrganisationsNon-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Civil Society Network), private sector, peak bodies (including Law Council of Australia) and the publicAustralia will ensure that our Open Government National Action Plan is a platform for ongoing dialogue, collaboration and open government reform. We will do this by establishing a permanent dialogue mechanism with civil society, which includes a multi-stakeholder forum and transparent reporting and accountability mechanisms. The multi-stakeholder forum will at a minimum track the implementation of commitments, ensure commitments continue to be relevant and ambitious, inform the drafting of future National Action Plans and raise awareness about open government in the broader community.Decision MakingEnhance public participation in government decision making._632fce9c-d832-11e6-9ec4-01320fbcdb3b5.2Department of Industry, Innovation and ScienceLead AgencyAustralian Commonwealth EntitiesAll Commonwealth entities (including the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission)Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits CommissionNon-Government OrganisationsResearch sector, non-government organisations (including Australian Open Government Partnership Network, IAP2 and the Australasian Facilitators Network), private sector and the publicAustralia will work towards improving public participation and engagement to enhance policy and service delivery outcomes for Australians. We will do this by establishing a new Australian Government framework for public participation and engagement.2016-01-012018-12-312017-01-11http://ogpau.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/posts/2016/12/Australia%27s first Open Government National Action Plan - FINAL.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net