[Greens-Media] Greens to Contest Government's Privilege Claim on Snowy Papers

[Christopher Holley]

Media release from NSW Greens MP, Sylvia Hale
Further information: Chris Holley 0437 779 546

Greens to Contest Government's Privilege Claim on Snowy Papers

Greens MP Sylvia Hale has announced that she will challenge the
government's claim that most of the Snowy Hydro papers it has been
required to table in the parliament are subject to privilege and
cannot be made public.

"The government has claimed that it has a public interest immunity
from releasing many of the documents, a claim which I will dispute,"
said Ms Hale.

"The government has tried all along to push this sale through on the
sly and even after being ordered by the parliament to release the
papers it is still trying to withhold information from the public."

"The government's main public interest immunity argument is that
releasing the documents while the share float is taking place may
breach the requirements of the federal Corporations Act, yet the
government acknowledges that it is not bound by that Act."

"The level of public opposition to this sale is enormous. There are
large rallies and public meetings taking place across the state,
reflecting widespread concern about the implications of the sale for
future water and energy supply. Yet the government claims it is in
the public interest to keep documents relating to these issues secret."

"It may be in the government's political interest to keep these
documents secret but I am sure that it is not in the public interest,"
said Ms Hale.

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