In his 2005 book Weasel Words, Don Watson wrote, “Weasel words are the words of the powerful, the treacherous and the unfaithful, spies, assassins and thieves.  Bureaucrats love them. Tyrants cannot do without them…”

In government, politics and the corporate world we see language used to hide meaning instead of to reveal it, to confuse understanding rather than to enhance it. We hear of core and non-core election promises; of campaigns funded by lobby groups less than transparent about their memberships and agendas; of lies, damned lies and creative annotations to statistics.

Words like ‘innovation’, ‘sustainability’ and ‘resilience’ have been so hijacked by bureaucratic expedience and disingenuous company reporting that they no longer mean anything much at all.

The Queensland Government’s laudable attempts last year to improve openness and accountability in government are a necessary first step to helping Queenslanders learn about and participate in their government’s decision-making.  The Information Commissioner follows up next week with a public lecture and forum for Right to Information Day, focusing on the accessibility of public language.

This is an important issue for Queensland and Australia at a time when our political systems and public companies are struggling to retain our confidence. 

Registrations for both events are now open. You can find out more information by clicking here.