accountability in governance Quotes

Government that is open and honest will always be able to withstand the light of day.

I'm sick and tired of government ministers in this Labour government who simply blame other people when things go wrong.

Entrepreneurs are accustomed to accountability: If we fail to deliver value, we lose customers. If we misallocate capital, we absorb the loss. Government, too, should be judged by results, not intentions.

No one is innocent after the experience of governing. But not everyone is guilty.

I think this is the biggest lesson a president or any of us who has responsibility to govern have to learn: There are always consequences to actions that you take. There are consequences to inaction.

I think there was something started under my father that I appreciate that it's time to end, and I like the symmetry of me being the person who actually turns the clock back so that we can have a Prime Minister's Office and, indeed, a democracy, that actually respects what voters say and is open and transparent. Because, not only does it matter to gain people's trust, but it matters for quality public policy and governance, and that's why we're committed to open and transparent government.

I can document this past week [of presidency] we've put out memos from every agency showing what did we do. Try to be as honest as possible. There's a little hype involved obviously. It's spin because it's our agencies. We feel some pride about it. But tried to be self-critical as well.