The Australian Government as part of the social inclusion agenda is working to develop a new partnership with the not-for-profit Sector. Public comment is being sought. NRSDC encourages everyone to take the opportunity to contribute to this very important document. Comments are due by 17 September 2008.

More information from ACOSS on the Australian Compact

A National Compact: a new era for government-community relations Community groups have until September 17 to tell the Federal Government what they would like to see in an Australian Compact, an agreement that is expected to outline how the government and not-for-profit sector would work together on an ongoing basis.
 
The compact has been proposed as part of the government's social inclusion agenda, and was introduced by Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Ursula Stephens, at the "First Consultation on a National Compact" on July 22 in Melbourne.
 
Senator Stephens said a compact would provide a framework to articulate values shared between the government and the not-for-profit sector as they work together to "create opportunities for all Australians to realise their full potential across all areas of social and economic life."
 
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has invited comment on:

• the value of developing a compact
• the shared values of the sector and government
• how a compact could improve the lives of Australians
• what a partnership between the government and the sector could look like
• who should be party to an Australian Compact, including how the diversity of the not-for-profit sector could be reflected in the compact
• the priority areas of government sector relations that a compact might focus on
• what forms of community engagement would add most value to a sector reform and capacity building agenda
• overseas and state experiences of similar agreements that could help to develop an Australian compact.

Speaking at the National Consultation, Senator Stephens said the government believed a compact could help address power imbalances between it and the sector.
 
"It will provide a set of standards to which we are all held accountable," she said. "This isn't just about how Government relates to the sector, but about how we all work in partnership to respond to the needs of citizens. "It must also be a living, breathing and developing relationship that provides an overarching vision for what we can achieve."
 
Comments can be submitted by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (and they prefer that it be sent as a Word attachment) or by post to: Australian Compact, Community Support Program, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, PO Box 7576, Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610.
 
The Australian Council of Social Service is hosting consultations around the country to provide not-for profits with an opportunity to comment on the idea of a national compact. See below for details.
 
Signs of Dissent
Meanwhile, in the first sign of dissent, the Australia Institute has warned that community groups should be "very careful" about signing a compact.
 
In a report released last week, Agreeing to Disagree: Maintaining dissent in the NGO sector by Gemma Edgar, the institute says that while compacts may offer important benefits, they do not supply long-term solutions to problems in relationships between NGOs and the government.
 
"While the Rudd Government's desire to build bridges with the community sector should be applauded, any decision to enter into a formal compact needs to be carefully considered by both sides," the institute says. "The idea that the Government and the community sector can agree on how they will work together constructively sounds good in theory, but experience shows it's the sincerity of both parties, not the words of a formal agreement, that is the key to a positive relationship."
 
As they point out, the Iemma government in NSW quietly ditched an agreement between the NSW government and the NSW community sector on the basis that it had been signed by the previous Premier.
 
"If these agreements don't hold when there is a change of Premier, even within the same party, what chance have they got of withstanding a change of government?" the Australia Institute asks.
 
"Compacts themselves do not guarantee the legitimacy of the community sector. Nor can they be relied upon to ensure an effective and respectful long-term relationship between government and NGOs. These things will only occur if NGO advocacy is recognised as a legitimate and valuable element of public debate."
 
The institute has suggested that rather than entering into a compact, non-government organisations should promote the message that they are vital players in an active, participatory democracy. To see The Australia Institute's report, go to www.tai.org.au

Australian Council of Social Service Consultations:

• Alice Springs September 5, 9am-1pm
• Darwin September 8, 9am-1pm
• Brisbane September 9, 9am-1pm
• Townsville September 10, 2pm-4.30pm
• Adelaide September 12, 9am-1pm
• Hobart September 19, 2pm-5.30pm
• Perth September 26, 9am-1pm

To register, for further information and to find out about dates for New South Wales, Victoria and Canberra, which are still to be advised, go to www.acoss.org.au