[Greens-Media] Rees turns over a new leaf on FOI: Greens deliver wish list

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 24 October 2008

Rees turns over a new leaf on FOI: Greens deliver wish list 

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has welcomed Premier Nathan Rees' commitment to freedom of information law reform and transparent government and called on him to immediately place critical reports and documents on government websites.

"The Premier can demonstrate his commitment to open government by immediately placing information about the V8 Olympic Park Supercar race, the RTA's plans for inner west motorways and background agreements covering the controversial Catherine Hill Bay development on government websites," Ms Rhiannon said. 

In 2006 the government voted against a Greens bill for a review of NSW's FOI laws.

"For years now Labor has considered transparency a liability and the Premier's new commitment to open government and overhauling NSW's 19 year old freedom of information laws is long overdue," Ms Rhiannon said.

"NSW Labor has relied on media spin and secrecy to hang onto power and worn the fall out from its attempts to cover up scandals such as the Cross City Tunnel.

"If Premier Rees' culture change is to be effective he must do more than issue a memo to ministers. 

"The Premier must drive the change and monitor practices to ensure agencies regularly and routinely release information to the public.

"Premier Rees should direct that reports and contracts relating to the V8 Supercars event at Olympic Park be available for scrutiny.

"Only this week the Minister for State Development Ian MacDonald refused point blank my request to release the contract for the V8 Supercars event at Olympic Park and the modelling behind the government's claim it would bring $100 million in economic benefits.

"Residents in the Inner West deserve to be told where the RTA plans to build motorways and build tunnel exhaust stacks, including what the route will be for the M4 East. 

"The new Planning Minister must also release the Memorandums of Understanding between Coal and Allied, Rosecorp and the government relating to controversial new developments at Catherine Hill Bay and Gwandalan.

"The government should consider appointing an independent Information Commissioner, following the lead of Queensland and the Northern Territory, Ireland, Canada and the UK.

"An Information Commissioner would facilitate a shift to open government, monitor compliance with FOI laws and help individuals with complaints," Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au