Parliaments, Executives and Integrity Agencies: Reporting on an International Conference on Transparency for Better Governance

The Third Regional International Conference of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences on ‘Transparency for Better Governance’ was held in Monterrey, Mexico, over the period 16–20 July 2006. While the topics discussed ranged widely over transparency and accountability issues, there was a special concern with what were described as ‘agencies for public accountability’ such as ombudsmen and supreme audit institutions and how they could be strengthened and improved. This paper identifies and comments on some issues raised at that conference that connect with the theme of the 28th ASPG Conference held in Wellington, New Zealand, 28–30 September 2006, with a particular focus on problems associated with the relationship between executive governments, legislatures, and bodies established to enhance the integrity, transparency and accountability of government operations. The discussants in Mexico searched for better ways of protecting such bodies, but repeatedly returned to the legislature as the most obvious guarantor of their effectiveness. Yet there was wide concern that legislatures often did not perform this role well. This was recognised as a major transparency and accountability problem deserving much closer study than it has hitherto received, and initiatives in New Zealand and some Australian States leading to the establishment of a category of ‘officers of parliament’ attracted interest.