[LINK] Standards Australia's standard for "conflict of interest"

[Jan Whitaker]

At 09:05 PM 20/02/2008, Janet Hawtin wrote:
>All of these issues suggest to me that it would be useful to review
>the process itself to ensure that it is robust and able to function,
>and that it is also able to respond where a submission is procedurally
>indigestible or conflicted.

Since this is a systemic concern and we now have a new government, is 
it possible to point out to whoever has the relevant portfolio what 
has happened to the Australian voice in international standards? If 
it has 'sunk' to too low a level, maybe it's time to 'reform' this 
process as well. If we are being put at a disadvantage, maybe it's 
time to shake up Standards Australia into a more "transparent" 
process with adequate funding.

Oh, and while you're at it, you might mention that charging people 
for copies of standards that have been developed through 'free' 
consultative processes isn't exactly a good thing. Having expensive 
to access standards only benefits companies that can afford to buy 
them. There is no ability without expense for the public/consumers to 
get benchmark information to determine on their own if products and 
services are up to scratch. Why have a benchmark, which is what a 
standard really is, unless people can judge against them?

Jan




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