Transparency is under threat in Australia

Transparency is essential for a healthy democracy. But from failing whistleblower protections to a broken freedom of information system and police raids on media companies, transparency is under threat in Australia.

In October, we partnered with The Australia Institute, Whistleblower Justice Fund, Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom and Transparency International Australia to hold the inaugural Transparency Summit in Canberra. 

The Albanese Government took power with a promise to restore integrity and address the secrecy crisis. Certainly, there have been some promising developments – including the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. But with just months remaining until the next election, too little has changed.  

One whistleblower is in jail and another remains on trial, while changes to our whistleblower protection regime remain up in the air.

Promised reform to draconian secrecy laws is yet to occur. Increasingly, civil society groups are being asked to sign NDAs to participate in government consultation. 

That’s why we convened the Summit – to bring together civil society, politicians, journalists and more to unite our calls for more transparency and accountability.  We urge the Albanese Government to act in the months ahead and call on both major parties to commit to vital transparency reform in the next term of parliament. 

Transparency is critical to addressing so many of the problems facing Australia today. At the Summit, we heard from incredible speakers working on First Nations justice, war crimes accountability, the climate crisis, Australia's foreign policy and a range of human rights issues.  

A consistent theme was that the lack of transparency makes it harder to achieve justice.