Breaking cabinet secrecy would restore trust in government
Greater transparency and jettisoning the bizarre rules that oblige ministers to lie would encourage more positive public perceptions of party politics.
Election research by the Australian National University suggests public trust in and satisfaction with democratic institutions are at their lowest level in 40 years.
But do high levels of mistrust in government really matter? With compulsory voting and the dominance of the two-party system, the Australian government will continue functioning more or less as it always has, raising taxes, spending them, and regulating the activities of private individuals and businesses. This will happen regardless of trust levels.
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Nick Hossack is a public policy consultant, former policy director at the Australian Bankers Association, and former adviser to John Howard.
