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?

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Ideas for Discussion

• How much collaboration is appropriate and how does one achieve that appropriate level?

• What styles of collaboration work best?