It is quite correct to say that most candidates would nominate transparency as being important to them.
While it is easy for prospective politicians to make these motherhood statements it is often more difficult to honour those commitments once elected.
In my case, it would be a case of look at my history to see my commitment to this ideal. In 2003 I took legal action against Shellharbour Council over some decisions taken in an inappropriate fashion. Council had taken decisions in a confidential session of Council that I believed should have been taken in an open session. I put my concerns to the Dep't of Local Government. They agreed with my assessment of the situation but were not in a position to order Council to act within the framework of the Act. I took action in the Land and Environment Court. It eventually cost me $17,000, but Council surrendered to my position and ended up taking the decisions in a legal fashion (in an open session of Council).
I was able to determine that Council had not acted in a fashion required by the Act, and I was prepared to spend my own money to bring them to account.
I think I would probably have a better claim to promoting the concept of transparency than any other candidate.
