Openness

Seven principles

Clear rules so you can trust how this work is run — and keep your own agency over what you share.

These principles apply prospectively from 6 November 2026 (Australia/Perth). They do not rewrite letters already sent, or create retrospective permission to publish. Where an earlier hold or private understanding still applies, we honour it.

1. 01

   Our work is open.

   We publish our invitations, substantive proposals we advance, decisions and reasons, significant changes, funding received or committed, conflicts of interest and formal commitments. Significant funding offers and their conditions are also disclosed. Personal contact details are excluded.

2. 02

   People can contribute without public identification.

   Nobody must publicly identify themselves to ask a question, offer an idea or share an experience. We protect personal information, especially information concerning children, vulnerable people and third parties. Any contact details required privately are explained before submission. On public pages we name organisations and roles by default. A personal name appears only when it is necessary for accuracy and has been authorised for publication.

3. 03

   The same rules apply to everyone—including us.

   Individuals, governments, universities, faith communities, businesses and journalists may contribute publicly or request private correspondence. Wealth, position or influence buys no special authority over the initiative.

4. 04

   Publication requires clear understanding.

   Before a public contribution is submitted, we explain what will be published and how it will be attributed. Incoming correspondence is not automatically public. Private correspondence requires permission before publication; silence is not permission. Requests for confidentiality remain unpublished while terms are agreed. If the intended status is unclear, we ask before publishing.

5. 05

   Private advice must not hide public influence.

   Private discussion is available only to develop ideas for eventual open discussion. We do not accept permanent secrecy about proposals we advance, decisions, funding, control or conflicts of interest. People may still contribute without public identification. Exact emails are not automatically public; publication requires agreed permission and is never applied retrospectively. When private talks lead to significant changes, we publish the changes and reasoning without unnecessarily identifying the contributor. Funding, decision-making roles and binding conditions cannot be concealed as personal privacy. We decline arrangements that prevent honest public accountability. Criticism is not withheld merely because it is uncomfortable.

6. 06

   Contact is not endorsement.

   An invitation, acknowledgement, reply or discussion does not imply support. Official organisational statements are published and attributed only after the sender's authority and permission have been confirmed.

7. 07

   We keep our promises and correct our mistakes.

   We honour agreed confidentiality and make no promises we cannot keep. New rules do not create retrospective permission to publish. Mistakes are corrected openly; personal or sensitive information exposed in error is removed promptly without unnecessarily repeating it.