Australia in Switzerland
Bern and Geneva
Switzerland, Liechtenstein

statement739

Human Rights Council - 30th Regular Session

Panel discussion on a human rights based approach to good governance in the public service

Australian Statement

24 September 2015

Australia welcomes the opportunity to participate in this panel discussion. Governance affects virtually all aspects of a country’s prosperity. An effective public sector and functioning, predictable institutions provide the foundations for economic growth, private sector investment and trade.

Good public administration protects against inefficiency, fraud, inequity and infringements of human rights. Australia is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and impartiality and a culture of high performance in public administration. The Australian Public Service Values and Employment Principles provide public confidence in government by articulating how public servants will exercise authority while meeting government objectives.

Australia’s commitment to effective governance is one of the six priority areas of our aid program. Ineffective governance lies at the heart of most development challenges in Australia’s partner countries. Ineffective governance leads to waste, corruption, deterioration of business confidence, discrimination, and failures in the delivery of basic services required for the enjoyment of human rights. Australia is therefore supporting the building of public institutions that play a direct role in promoting stability, economic growth and effective governance.

We believe an ongoing commitment to effective governance, enabled by competent and accountable public services and institutions, will be integral to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG16.

We would welcome the Panel’s reflections on the role of the public service to delivering on SDG16.


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