[Greens-Media] NSW Police and Govt thumb noses at FOI laws

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
3 August 2006 

NSW Police and Govt thumb noses at FOI laws

Greens MP and justice spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said a leaked report by the NSW Ombudsman showing serious breaches by NSW Police of freedom of information laws shows that Labor had allowed a bureaucratic culture of secrecy to fester in NSW.

“NSW Police have enormous powers which carry an accompanying responsibility to be open and accountable with the public,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

“A previously unreleased Ombudsman report reveals that the FOI unit of NSW Police is understaffed and failing to respond to FOI requests within the legally required timeframe. 

“NSW Police has done little to address problems identified by the Ombudsman.

“The NSW FOI Act is no longer an effective key for people seeking access to information from NSW government agencies. 

“While FOI applications have almost doubled in the last decade, the percentage of applications where all documents requested have been released has dramatically decreased to only 63% from 81% in 1995/96. 

“Unrealistic charges are also being levied by agencies in an attempt to dissuade applicants.

“The NSW government has stood by and done nothing to reverse these trends, ignoring repeated Ombudsman’s recommendations. 

“For over a decade the NSW Ombudsman has been calling for a review of NSW’s outdated and ineffective FOI laws.

“Premier Iemma refused to commit to reform of FOI laws when challenged by the Greens in the 2005 budget estimates. 

“The Greens plan to introduce a private members bill to amend the FOI Act to ensure
accountability and transparency is a key issue for debate in the lead up to the 2007 state election,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

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