[Greens-Media] Local Government Minister attempts to stifle whistleblowers

[Mithra Cox]

3rd March 2005

Local Government Minister attempts to stifle whistleblowers

Local Government Minister Tony Kelly should support whistleblowers
attempts to make Orange City Council more transparent, and not
intimidate them into silence, Greens MP Sylvia Hale said today.

Minister Kelly has attempted to deflect attention from his Departments
failure to investigate serious allegations by implying that anyone who
came forward might be subject to defamation action, Ms Hale said.

Despite allegations made publicly in the Central Western Daily that the
former General Manager of Orange City Council, Allen Dwyer had acted
improperly, the Local Government Minster has refused to investigate the
matter further.

Instead, the Minister is attempting to frighten people into silence by
suggesting that those who had information or asked questions might be
subject to defamation action.

In question time today, Minster Kelly refused to say why the Department
of Local Government had not interviewed persons named in allegations
published in the Central Western Daily on March 20th 2004. 

The Minster may hope that people will be intimidated into not coming
forward, but it is his responsibility to properly investigate
allegations already in the public domain.

The people of Orange deserve to know the truth, Ms Hale said.


More information: Mithra Cox 0425 351 844 



 
Mithra Cox, Media Officer
Greens MLC Sylvia Hale
NSW Parliament
PH: (02) 9230 3030
M: 0425 351 844