PROPOSALS to embed a commitment to transparency within the government’s Common Strategic Policy have been passed by the States Assembly following a ministerial u-turn.
The amendment by Deputy Carina Alves to the CSP document, which also included pledges about government support for the democratic process and running elections, had been described as unnecessary and disproportionate by Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham on the first day of the debate.
But yesterday, following overnight reflection, Senator Farnham said ministers would be dropping their opposition to the amendment, which was subsequently passed by 42 votes to three. The amendment would come into force should Members back to overarching CSP later this week.
Deputy Alves said that her move to add an additional 12th priority to the government’s blueprint for the next four years would provide “a clear policy direction that extends beyond individual initiatives”.
She added: “Let’s make that commitment so Islanders can see it, and hold us to it.”
Constable Karen Stone was among those to support Deputy Alves’s goal, describing it as “straightforward and vital”.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Senator Farnham said he felt that the current Council of Ministers was “far more prepared” than others during his time in politics to adopt and improve transparency, but that it was not necessary or proportionate to create a specific priority when transparency was already embedded in the work of government.
There was applause when the Chief Minister announced yesterday morning that ministers would be dropping their opposition to the amendment.
Assistant Environment Minister Kirsten Morel said he was uneasy about the government becoming involved in the democratic process in areas such as political education, the running of elections and automatic voter registration.
Social Security Minister Elaine Millar said she was very concerned that if the extra priority about government engagement in elections was added to the CSP, there would be accusations of control, interference and manipulation. This would be “a recipe for disaster”, she added.
Following the debate, a large majority of Members supported Deputy Alves. Those who voted against it were Senator Millar and Deputies Robert Parker and Gabriel Raimondo.
