University of Tasmania
Browse

Accountability, Government Decisions and Future Generations: Lessons from the Australian Ombudsman

chapter
posted on 2023-05-22, 19:16 authored by Phillipa McCormackPhillipa McCormack, Cleo Hansen-LohreyCleo Hansen-Lohrey

Accountability is often proposed as the core justification for administrative law, and for the rigorous scrutiny and procedural constraints that body of law imposes on executive governments. The concept of accountability will also likely underpin proposals for new institutional arrangements focusing on the interests of future generations. This chapter provides an overview of administrative law scholarship on the concept of accountability, addressing the extent to which it can accommodate the interests of future generations. This chapter reviews the legal and institutional framework for the Australian Commonwealth Ombudsman, outlining three significant characteristics that have underpinned the evolution of this administrative law institution and its relative success at facilitating accountability. We argue that these characteristics could provide important lessons for the establishment of a new, adaptive and future-focused institution to promote long-term government accountability in a rapidly changing world.

History

Publication title

Giving Future Generations a Voice: Normative Frameworks, Institutions and Practice

Editors

J Linehan and P Lawrence

Pagination

128-148

ISBN

9781839108242

Department/School

Law

Publisher

Edward Elgar Publishing

Publication status

  • Published

Place of publication

UK

Extent

12

Rights statement

Copyright 2021 Edward Elgar Publishing

Socio-economic Objectives

230201 Civics and citizenship, 230407 Legislation, civil and criminal codes, 230405 Law reform

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC