Openly

Integrity - unlock value and competitive advantage with Openly. Openly is Australia’s only integrity specialist with a business-first focus. For businesses looking to assess, enhance, or transform their integrity performance, Openly offers two bespoke services built on its proprietary integrity model: Openly Assessment: Understanding and improving integrity performance An Openly Assessment evaluates your business integrity baseline against our model, identifying opportunities for improvement in transparency behaviours that align with your growth and value strategies. Openly Advisory: Transforming transparency into a competitive advantage Partner with Openly’s expert advisors to transform your transparency practices, unlock reputational and economic value, and lead with integrity. Learn more about these offers: https://lnkd.in/gqq6ZMVH Connect with Openly now: [email protected]

Minority government:? A chance for business to build, not risk, integrity. New research for Openly shows 66%* Australians consider ethical dealing between business and government even more important if monitory government results from the Election. 42% say it’s very much more important.* This is an exponential increase on top of the consistent 80% plus base line** of Australians who expect ethical behaviour when business deals with government. This is a real call to action for business to choose to see minority government as a chance to set a new standard of integrity leadership when in government dealings. But consider what’s at stake - there is a staggering trust gap between business and stakeholders where only 19% of Australians think large corporations behave ethically.*** We know that a near majority of 46% will punish businesses for unethical behaviour by changing purchase patterns and recommendations - but a much higher proportion - 70% - will reward companies that demonstrate ethical behaviour. Openly’s message for business is to step up its ethical game or risk regulation and stakeholder backlash - these are numbers our politicians won’t ignore. If ever there was a time to ensure business integrity is fully recognised, valued and rewarded, minority government is it. Learn more about the opportunities and threats for business integrity in minority government: https://lnkd.in/g8HHticW * Resolve 2023 Ethical Gov. Relations Report: https://lnkd.in/ge4WBpDj ** Resolve 2025 Transparency in GR report: https://lnkd.in/girK7iN3 *** SEC Newgate Mood of the Nation Report Feb 25; Feb 25 – 19% vs 46%, Feb 24 19% vs 47%; Apr 23 21% vs 29%: https://lnkd.in/gpM-gYXz

How real should real-time donation disclosures be?? Openly is drawing attention to our Commonwealth Parliamentarians that are taking leadership in the political donations debate. We recognise Greens Senator for Queensland Senator Larissa Waters' position on donation reform and that it echoes Openly’s call for business https://lnkd.in/gXWh-X65 to show leadership by adopting real-time political disclosure practice for this election. With minority government a very strong possibility, donation disclosure reform is more than likely to stay on the political agenda. That’s why businesses could take leadership now – for this election – with donation disclosures that are voluntary, visible and accessible. If a business chooses to donate, they could choose to declare in real time. Transparency, in real time, as issues unfold and are debated, is the best way to avoid suggestions of buying influence. Already in WA, donations need to be declared within a week outside elections, and within 24 hours during an election. So it’s more than possible – nor does it need government infrastructure to make it happen. It’s a choice business can make today that will help meet the expectations of 84% of Australians https://lnkd.in/ge4WBpDj in ethical dealing between business and government. And that has to help rebuild trust. Thanks Senator Waters for your perspective and sense of urgency in donation reform!

Confidential Government Information Openly’s Transparency Index https://lnkd.in/e7DdJcRz reveals only a few of the ASX50 have specific policies about dealing with confidential government information.?Recent scandals reveal the damage that breaches can do to transgressing businesses but also confidence in the policy system. How can business demonstrate integrity when it deals with privileged government information and data?

How to "unvest" an interest? Make it transparent. Openly is drawing attention to our Commonwealth Parliamentarians that are taking leadership in the political donations debate.? We recognise Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock’s position on donation reform with this call out to business: Transparency is the best way to counter the suggestion of a vested interest and build trust. Business has a valuable role to play in policy reform with government and Parliament, especially in a minority government environment. We believe real-time disclosures of political donations are in everyone's best interests, and call upon business to consider adopting this practice for the upcoming election. Indeed, the Openly Transparency Index? https://lnkd.in/e7DdJcRz highlights donation disclosure practices but rewards enhanced disclosure that is voluntary, visible and accessible with higher scores leading to improved integrity ratings.? Thank you Senator Pocock for providing this call to action – highly relevant for Australian businesses that seek to lead in integrity when they deal with government.? To learn more, or register your interest, visit https://lnkd.in/gk7H6e3w

Transparency in Minority Government One of the most likely outcomes of the upcoming Federal election will be minority government - possibly either coalition or Labor, transforming the transparency landscape yet again.? In this environment, how can business best show leadership - to build greater confidence in better policy outcomes and to act with integrity.?

Are Australia’s supermarkets becoming the next business consumers love to hate? Integrity, doing what you say, and saying what you do, seems common sense.? But so many of Australia’s leading businesses seem to find this hard to deliver - and consumers, investors and voters? don’t like it at all (link to the 84% post).? Following the path trod by banks and airlines, recent Resolve research reveals that supermarkets are the latest sector to find themselves in a credibility crisis.? Over two years, the supermarket sector has suffered a 74 point decline into negative sentiment.? From a +54 rating in October 2022 to -20 in October 2024, questionable business behaviour has drawn the attention of regulators and political review and censure.? According to Resolve: The shift in public opinion is clear. From reward for their support in working with government for consumers during COVID, questioning of cost increases and their stance on social issues (the Voice and Australia Day) in 2023, followed by all-out condemnation for ‘dodgy discounts’ in a cost-sensitive environment. In the latter cases, increasing misalignment with political realities and/or ‘surprises’ stemming from lack of transparency have left supermarkets open to regulatory action and political criticism (or lack of support). This is exactly the pattern we saw for banks leading up to the Royal Commission. So what’s the solution? Winning back public trust takes time, but it needs to start with earning the trust of regulators, government and ultimately, the Parliament. The Openly Transparency Index? https://lnkd.in/guqtD7bk provides a road map for improving transparent engagement when business deals with government - an ideal opportunity to design trustworthy engagement for the new Parliament.? To learn more, or register your interest, visit?Openly: https://lnkd.in/gk7H6e3w (Graph from Resolve Survey n=1600, margin of error 2.4%, October 2022, 2023, 2024)

Who are our Parliamentary leaders outlining actionable steps to improve integrity between government and business? In the coming months, Openly will recognise MPs and Senators, across party lines, using their voices to share policy positions on improving Parliamentary integrity. Today, Openly recognises Allegra Spender MP, the Independent Member for Wentworth in NSW, and her consistent policy position on improving Parliamentary integrity https://lnkd.in/gik6TtZM. Openly, applauds integrity change makers. Recently, we briefed Allegra on our inaugural Openly Transparency Index? https://lnkd.in/guqtD7bk, rating the ASX50. From a business transparency point of view, our values and purpose align with your policy - especially around real-time political donations disclosure. What is clear is the gap in leadership where business must act to build back consumer, employee and investor trust. Thank you Allegra for your integrity leadership and support.

As cited in NZ Herald, 12 Feb, 2025: “Transparency International New Zealand (Tinz) chief executive Julie Haggie said the decline in the country’s underlying scoring metrics over the past decade was more concerning than the loss in rank. "New Zealand’s response to increasing corruption pressures over several years has been lacklustre and complacent,” she said. She told the?Herald?concerns about New Zealand – and its declining score – were a worry and international reviews largely focused on accountability and transparency measures, or a lack thereof. Explore our full Transparency Index? report: https://lnkd.in/guqtD7bk Read the NZ Herald article: https://lnkd.in/gKSw_PRS

“Real time voluntary political donations disclosure. Now.” Openly’s CEO makes the case for Australian business to show leadership by committing to real time donation disclosures for the coming Federal election. By embracing the transparency reforms now that the major parties are still debating, companies making political donations have an opportunity at this election to make a huge stride towards demonstrating the integrity their stakeholders demand. Read Nick Stravs’ piece here: https://lnkd.in/gXWh-X65