Feb. 5, 2003

NSW Ecumenical Council has released the following “Integrity in Public Life” statement motivated by deep disquiet about the nature of the national election in 2001. Preamble: While in democratic, multicultural and multi-faith societies, the social order is not determined by Christian values, Christians have a right and a duty to contribute to the fabric of their society. Moreover, we believe that all persons of good faith may wish to subscribe to this statement of principles.

1 Together we hold that there is no justification for politicians to lie to the people of Australia.

2 Australia has long enjoyed freedom and stability of government. Freedom is intimately concerned with truth and justice.

3 Australians have a right to expect that those whose task it is to attend to the affairs of the nation and of its several states will do so with a high degree of moral integrity.

4 Sovereign nations and states commit themselves to the promotion of the common good. Evasion of the truth and manipulation of the facts are destructive of the common good of society. Trust is thereby undermined, that trust which is the basis of all relationships including those between governments and the people who have elected them.

5 One of the principles of government, which Australia has long practised, is that of ministerial responsibility. We lament the erosion of that principle in our public life and call on state and federal governments to recommit themselves to that principle.

6 We believe that moral integrity in public life has been tarnished by increasing recourse to public relations experts, and we call on ministers and officials to take greater responsibility for explaining their actions and plans directly to the Australian people.

7 We invite our elected representatives to consider the potential they hold for the promotion of honesty and moral clarity in the exercise of their public office and the life of the nation.