oecd world forum “statistics, knowledge and policy”, palermo, 10-13 november 2004 1
TRANSCRIPT
OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 1
OECD World Forum on Key Indicators
Statistics, Knowledge and Policy
Palermo, 10-13 November 2004
OECD World Forum on Key Indicators
Statistics, Knowledge and Policy
Palermo, 10-13 November 2004
OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 2
Collaborating with Civil Society: Reflections from
Australia
Jon Hall, Australian Bureau of Statistics
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Overview
• Three Australian indicator initiatives - their links with civil society
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Overview
• Three Australian indicator initiatives - their links with civil society
• Why collaborate with civil society?
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Overview
• Three Australian indicator initiatives - their links with civil society
• Why collaborate with civil society?
Civil Society’s perspective – why collaborate with government
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Overview
• Three Australian indicator initiatives - their links with civil society
• Why collaborate with civil society?
And how best to collaborate?
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Overview
• Three Australian indicator initiatives - their links with civil society
• Why collaborate with civil society?• Conclusions
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Three Australian Indicator Initiatives
• ABS – ‘Measures of Australia’s Progress’
• Tasmania’s - ‘Tasmania Together’• Victorian State Government’s –
‘Growing Victoria Together’
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics Measures of Australia’s Progress
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics Measures of Australia’s Progress
• Headline progress indicators to inform public debate
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics Measures of Australia’s Progress
• Headline progress indicators to inform public debate
• Wide consultation and an external expert group
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics Measures of Australia’s Progress
• Headline progress indicators to inform public debate
• Wide consultation and an external expert group
• But …. first issue criticised for perceived “left wing and ‘green’ bias”
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Australian Indicator Initiatives
• Civil society provided very valuable advice and assistance
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Australian Indicator Initiatives
• Civil society provided very valuable advice and assistance
• They also promoted and supported the venture
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Australian Indicator Initiatives
• Civil society provided very valuable advice and assistance
• They also promoted and supported the venture
• But …. need to be careful about perceptions around roles …. and that an adequately broad spectrum of views come to the table
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• Tasmanian Government’s Tasmania Together
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• Tasmanian Government’s Tasmania Together
• Designed to set goals for Tasmania and monitor progress towards them
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• Tasmanian Government’s Tasmania Together
• Designed to set goals for Tasmania and monitor progress towards them
• Community led – with very significant consultation at every stage
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• Tasmanian Government’s Tasmania Together
• Designed to set goals for Tasmania and monitor progress towards them
• Community led – with very significant consultation at every stage
• But … now realise that some groups not so well represented as others
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• Victorian Government’s Growing Victoria Together
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• Victorian Government’s Growing Victoria Together
• Designed to promote a whole of government approach … and to communicate government’s vision to the public
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Australia Indicator Initiatives
• Victorian Government’s Growing Victoria Together
• Designed to promote a whole of government approach … and to communicate government’s vision to the public
• Less public consultation than other projects may have lead to less ‘buy in’ from the public (which may lead in turn to reduced support in government)
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Some reflection from Civil Society’s perspective
• Community groups take a vital interest in monitoring and reporting …they see (in Australia) some deficiencies in environmental and social reporting
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Some reflection from Civil Society’s perspective
• Community groups take a vital interest in monitoring and reporting …they see (in Australia) some deficiencies in environmental and social reporting
• Membership of advisory bodies can be frustrating .. Consultation without genuine commitment to listen and respond is unproductive
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Why Collaborate?
• Discussions about measuring progress leads to discussions – and shared understanding - about ‘what progress actually is’
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Why Collaborate?
• Discussions about measuring progress leads to discussions – and understanding - about ‘what progress actually is’
• Civil Society gets… facts to inform debate and advance particular causes, and a chance to influence policy
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Why Collaborate?
• Discussions about measuring progress leads to discussions – and understanding - about ‘what progress actually is’
• Civil Society gets… facts to inform debate and advance particular causes, and a chance to influence policy
• Government gets … a wider perspective, skills and resources, support and buy in
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Lessons in Collaboration
• Choose collaborators carefully
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Lessons in Collaboration
• Choose collaborators carefully• Judge the pace of collaboration well
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Lessons in Collaboration
• Choose collaborators carefully• Judge the pace of collaboration well• Listen to one another and deliver
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A Role for the OECD
• Sharing data and best practice
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A Role for the OECD
• Sharing data and best practice• Investigating the effects strong civil
society has on other economic and social aspects of progress
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A Role for the OECD
• Sharing data and best practice• Investigating the effects strong civil
society has on other economic and social aspects of progress
• Frameworks for indicators in controversial areas
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Conclusions
• Collaboration with civil society seems a necessary (though not sufficient) condition for a successful indicator initiative
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Conclusions
• Collaboration with civil society seems a necessary (though not sufficient) condition for a successful indicator initiative
• Collaboration strengthens content and builds support
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Conclusions
• Collaboration with civil society seems a necessary (though not sufficient) condition for a successful indicator initiative
• Collaboration strengthens content and builds support
• The reports become agents of change within civil society
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Ideas for Discussion
• How much collaboration is appropriate and how does one achieve that appropriate level?