Queenslander!
After Anna Bligh was sworn in as Premier, one of her first decisions of office was to review freedom of information legislation, giving this task to Dr David Soloman. This culminated in the Enhancing Open and Accountable Government discussion paper that was recently released and is most certainly worth a look. I was amongst the chorus of applause for such a move. After all, it was an important issue in the last federal election for the media, blogosphere and concerned citizens alone.
FOI was introduced in the early 1990’s after the Bjelke-Petersen regime. Goss did some good in regards to FOI, however subsequent Premiers Borbidge and Beattie subverted FOI to the point of which a minister may simply certify material is (or at some point might be) for Cabinet's consideration, and that secrecy status is assured.
Recently, the State Government has introduced legislation into Parliament that ensures thousands of documents held by the parliamentary secretaries can now be covered by the 30-year Cabinet confidentiality rule. Crown Law advice previously questioned whether the current practice of hiding parliamentary secretary documents under these circumstances was legal.
Premier Anna Bligh has been hypocritical at best and dishonest at worst with this underhanded amendment, covertly placed in the Professional Engineers and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. It is a provision to extend ministerial exemptions to parliamentary secretaries and basically an opportunity for 11 more MPs to make sure any documents they choose are hidden from the public for the next 30 years.
FOI is simply a fundamental to the openness, transparency and accountability of Governments. Access to information must be regulated and sufficient reasons given. However, this development is an abuse of the notion. Amendments that allow ministers to apply a Cabinet exemption for no reason other than the sole purpose of avoiding documents being accessible through FOI are not the products of healthy democracy.
UPDATE:
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg basically asks the question as to why the need for such secrecy- what have they got to hide?
5 comments:
Q, buried in other legislation. The Premier would score points if she was open about it. Drunk with power? Who is behind that one. Shine. Lucas. Purcell?
It is a sneaky move and should be called out at every opportunity. If the so called Opposition weren't interested in doing the same they would be on the Premier's back about this. It is a disgrace.
Shock! Another hate post on the Premier. And for what? You are in la la land if you think the Opposition wouldn't be ramming this stuff through daily. She is doing a good job.
anonymous,
It is quite simple. Premier Bligh committed to a review of FOI yet this decision erodes it. Borbidge and Beattie continually undermined the FOI Act. Bligh pushes these tactics to a new level. Do you support it? And I will post the Opposition's response if I can.
Q
The question must be asked as to why the need for such secrecy- what have they got to hide? The government works for us (or should).
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