We need Quality not Quantity of government - am I right?

Let’s talk about the quality of our government, not the quantity or size of our government. This is actually up to the non-publicly elected officials - shock horror, I know!

I propose measuring our government's quality on three key indicators: Transparency, accessibility, and channels of effective accountability.

Transparency 🍃
The central government and local government are transparent to the best of their ability, but the information they provide is not always accessible. It can take a lot of time, skill, and knowledge to sift through all government documents to try and understand what they are doing.

Accessibility 🍂
We need to make government information more accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical skills or knowledge. This means using plain language, providing clear and concise summaries, and making information available in a variety of formats. For example, none of the public service websites are accessible to the blind, or neurodiverse.

Accountability 🌿
There are formal mechanisms to hold the government accountable, such as laws, written and oral parliamentary questions, the Official Information Act, select committees, and complaints processes. However, these mechanisms are often highly ineffective and the burden of proof is squarely on the victim.

We need to make it easier for people to hold the government accountable for its actions. This means strengthening our formal accountability mechanisms and making it easier for people to access information and evidence to support their complaints.

Transparency, accessibility, and accountability are essential for a well-functioning government. By focusing on these qualities, we can ensure that our government is performing at a high level and serving the needs of the people.