Open Government: Have Your Say in Wodonga

Have your say on how government works for you 

Should it be easier to see who is influencing policy, and how public money is spent?  

Do you think Australia is doing enough to counter disinformation, or to protect the people who speak up when something is wrong?  

Do you feel like you have a real say in what happens between elections? 

If you have an opinion on any of these issues, this workshop is for you.  

About the workshop 

Helen Haines, MP for Indi is joining Transparency International Australia for this community workshop in Wodonga. This is your chance to shape what the Australian Government commits to on transparency and public participation over the next two years. 

Australia is currently developing a new National Action Plan for the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The OGP is an international initiative through which governments make concrete commitments to become more transparent, more participatory, more inclusive, and more accountable.  

Past plans have covered things like transparency in who donates to political parties, countering disinformation, better whistleblower protections, transparency in AI regulations, and involving young people in decisions. The new plan is being drawn up now, so this is the chance for public input before it is finalised at the end of the year.

What to expect 

This is a plain-language, participatory session. No jargon and no prior knowledge needed. We will explain what open government means, how the process works, and which reforms you can realistically influence. Then we want to hear from you: the barriers you face in trusting and engaging with government, and your feedback on what the plan should contain.