A Year of Action - Better Government

Wednesday, 30 July 2008
“We need to make the executive more accountable and parliament more accessible. If we can engage more with the community, the community will become more engaged in public affairs – and greater community engagement makes for better government.” – John Brumby, Premier.

19. Democracy and Accountability

Good government is all about making good decisions – and the Brumby Government believes the best way to make the kind of decisions that benefit Victorians is to listen to Victorians. The Government has also led the way on forging a new era of cooperative Federalism with the new Commonwealth Government. That’s why, over the past 12 months, the Government has:

  • Released State Parliament’s first annual Statement of Government Intentions.
  • Held 10 Community Cabinets.
  • Launched a new Premier’s website – www.premier.vic.gov.au including a new Your Questions element, where Ministers answer emailed questions from members of the public.
  • Held online forums on Climate Change and the recommendations made by Sir Rod Eddington’s East West Link Needs Assessment final report – giving Victorians a voice on significant issues being addressed by Government.
  • Announced the live audio streaming of Parliament, which is due to commence on 19 August 2008.
  • Released quarterly reports that detail the costs and benefits of all Ministerial Travel.
  • Published the names and remuneration bands of people who sit on public boards.
  • Introduced legislation that sought to make FOI free, abolish conclusive certificates and implement the recommendations made by the Ombudsman to improve FOI.
  • Implemented a charter of human rights and responsibilities – an Australian first.
  • Held more than 15 Roundtables with key stakeholders to inform government actions in significant areas including the drought, planning, climate change, mental health and road congestion.

 “There are no shortcuts to generational prosperity. It takes time, effort, coordination and, I think, above all it takes goodwill.” – John Brumby, Premier

20. Government Working Together

The election of the Rudd Government last November heralded a new era of cooperative Federalism in Australia – an opportunity to put aside the old battles of the past between business and unions, growth and the environment, Federal and State, and public and private, and build a better future for all Australians. Over the past 12 months, the Brumby Government has:
  • Outlined a comprehensive reform proposal for the national health system, detailing a 10- point plan focusing on patients and their needs, disease prevention and more flexible and sustainable resourcing.
  • Secured an immediate national funding allocation of $1 billion via the National Health Care
  • Agreement to relieve pressure on public hospitals and reverse the trend of Commonwealth cut backs, with $121.4 million of additional funding flowing directly to Victoria.
  • Signed the Murray Darling Basin Intergovernmental Agreement to ensure the future health and prosperity of the Murray Darling Basin and safeguard the needs of communities that depend upon it – and secured funding of up to $1 billion for the Stage 2 Food Bowl Project in Victoria, and a further $103 million for the Sunraysia Modernisation Project.
  • Launched, in partnership with the Commonwealth, an elective surgery blitz to treat an additional 5,908 patients a year, including a joint funding boost of an extra $37.8 million over the next year to public hospitals across the State.
  • Secured COAG agreement to develop a proposal for integrated children and family centres, reinforcing Victoria’s leadership in improving early childhood development outcomes.
  • Initiated cuts to business red tape through COAG to ease the burden on business and make it easier for business and workers to operate across State and Territory borders.
  • Announced, in partnership with the Commonwealth, the establishment of a new Australian Institute for Public Policy at Melbourne University.
  • Reached national agreement on new motor vehicle safety standards.