I only read a bit on the first page, so the initial example was MOFA stuff. What does TSP do for FA work (aside from ambassador things)? Last, I remember was TSP had it's own FA server. Which might have been removed when it was in favour of merging servers into the main one?

Could someone clarify that before I read on?

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I only read a bit on the first page, so the initial example was MOFA stuff. What does TSP do for FA work (aside from ambassador things)? Last, I remember was TSP had it's own FA server. Which might have been removed when it was in favour of merging servers into the main one?

Could someone clarify that before I read on?

There is a lot of policy work that goes on behind the scenes (That, side note, I do believe Cabinets should work on peeling back the curtain for more often, if possible.)
But yes, the FA server was also merged into the main server in the merger. 

_____________

So, I do agree that the Cabinet needs more public accountability. Too often, ministers will say "oh, we have things in the works" as a cover for a lack of activity. Now, sometimes they do have things in the works, but still.
However, I do think that the Cabinet needs a private space to work. Not only would having the Cabinet channel being visible to Legislators be a security concern, but a lot of sensitive topics are covered in that channel. 
I think the Assembly bears most of the responsibility to hold the Cabinet accountable. There's no point in having tools if you don't use them - I think all Legislators, including myself, should demand conformity to the Sunshine Act, regular Q&As, and updates on the unified Cabinet Agenda (something I was proud of to pioneer, that I was disappointed to see the Penguin Cabinet not continue.) If we in the Assembly start using those tools, I think we will be much better off on the subject of Cabinet accountability.

Midwesterner. Political nerd. Chipotle enthusiast. 
Minister of Culture of the South Pacific // Former Prime Minister

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Who the hell is saying the Cabinet shouldn’t have a private channel?

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I think the Assembly bears most of the responsibility to hold the Cabinet accountable. There's no point in having tools if you don't use them - I think all Legislators, including myself, should demand conformity to the Sunshine Act, regular Q&As, and updates on the unified Cabinet Agenda (something I was proud of to pioneer, that I was disappointed to see the Penguin Cabinet not continue.) If we in the Assembly start using those tools, I think we will be much better off on the subject of Cabinet accountability.

I think this is key. There is little point in discussing accountability if the Assembly won't, as a matter of course, demand it from the Cabinet. If things are going well, then we should ask ministers what will come next. If things aren't going well, we should ask ministers what they plan to do about it, and ideally not accept "stuff is in the works" as a valid answer, because it isn't. If stuff has been in the works for so long that we've noticed a lack of actual results, then either we're being told a lie or the minister is showing poor term planning. Either way it's our responsibility as citizens and legislators to ensure that the people we elected deliver on their promises.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
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I'm wading in late and I've skipped a lot of the argument to get here, so I apologize if I'm saying something someone else has already covered, but wrt to the idea of holding cabinet to account actively versus cabinet-initiated transparency, I think the two work in tandem. The Assembly will often only have an interest in and therefore questions about what the Cabinet is doing if they already have an idea of what that is and kept regularly up to date on it. I wouldn't be at all surprised if an open cabinet channel actually resulted in a lot more questions being raised and the Assembly engaging more regularly with the Cabinet because they'd already have the starting points there in front of them. Certainly, I usually don't have questions, because I'm just not very engaged with what the Cabinet is doing.

Founder of the Church of the South Pacific [Forum Thread] [Discord], a safe place to discuss spirituality for people of all faiths and none (currently looking for those interested in prayer and/or "home" groups);
And The Silicon Pens [Discord], a writer's group for the South Pacific and beyond!

Yahweo usenneo ir varleo, ihraneo jurlaweo hraseu seu, ir jiweveo arladi.

Salma 145:8

translate

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Psalm 145: 8

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I'm wading in late and I've skipped a lot of the argument to get here, so I apologize if I'm saying something someone else has already covered, but wrt to the idea of holding cabinet to account actively versus cabinet-initiated transparency, I think the two work in tandem. The Assembly will often only have an interest in and therefore questions about what the Cabinet is doing if they already have an idea of what that is and kept regularly up to date on it.

This is true to an extent. I'd say legislators should still try to demand accountability from the Cabinet, even (or particularly so) if they don't know what's going on behind the scenes. We do elect them to do a job, so we should know from the start what they plan to do and how the plan to do it. This is where term agendas come into play; i.e. Cabinet-initiated transparency. Once we have that, we should all have an interest in ensuring that the Cabinet actually produces results, and not just at the end of the term; i.e. holding the Cabinet to account.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
THE MATT-DUCK Law Archive | Mavenu Diplomatic Archive | Rules of the High Court | Case Submission System | Online Rulings Consultation System

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I think the Assembly bears most of the responsibility to hold the Cabinet accountable. There's no point in having tools if you don't use them - I think all Legislators, including myself, should demand conformity to the Sunshine Act, regular Q&As, and updates on the unified Cabinet Agenda (something I was proud of to pioneer, that I was disappointed to see the Penguin Cabinet not continue.) If we in the Assembly start using those tools, I think we will be much better off on the subject of Cabinet accountability.

 

I think this is key. There is little point in discussing accountability if the Assembly won't, as a matter of course, demand it from the Cabinet. If things are going well, then we should ask ministers what will come next. If things aren't going well, we should ask ministers what they plan to do about it, and ideally not accept "stuff is in the works" as a valid answer, because it isn't. If stuff has been in the works for so long that we've noticed a lack of actual results, then either we're being told a lie or the minister is showing poor term planning. Either way it's our responsibility as citizens and legislators to ensure that the people we elected deliver on their promises.

Please stop blaming people for not "demanding accountability" when they have been conditioned to expect all Cabinet activity to be secret and confidential.

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With respect, there are people in this region who we all know should know better (myself included). Nobody said anything to the degree that was necessary until SPINN published its article.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
THE MATT-DUCK Law Archive | Mavenu Diplomatic Archive | Rules of the High Court | Case Submission System | Online Rulings Consultation System

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With respect, there are people in this region who we all know should know better (myself included). Nobody said anything to the degree that was necessary until SPINN published its article.

I mean maybe not in Public but I am willing to bet people have a lot to say in private. SPINN just apparently said what people were thinking and allowed them to speak out loud. 

I will say that it is hard to get people active, when they can't/don't want to be.  Excuses get made and then someone is always the bad guy. And normally no one wants to be the bad guy.

This is Penguin!!
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Penguins shall one day rule the pie!
And by "pie", I mean "World"!!
Goddess Empress Queen Princess Lady of TSP 
Lilium Inter Spinas // Non timebo mala
I have done a lot of things in the Region in my History.
There's a list somewhere if you wanna go looking. 

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I will say that I fully agree that it's the duty of the Cabinet to make itself accountable to the people. I've been a longtime advocate of Question Times and I've repeatedly called for regular reports and generally of letting people know what's going on. That being said, when we're in a situation when the Cabinet does not make itself accountable, as we were during this term, we also have to recognise that the it was in people's interests to also step up and demand the accountability to isn't being given. Like Seraph rightly said, the two have to work in tandem, and that didn't happen this term.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
THE MATT-DUCK Law Archive | Mavenu Diplomatic Archive | Rules of the High Court | Case Submission System | Online Rulings Consultation System

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