[Greens-Media] NSW govt tries to hide CBD Metro documents

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
26 May 2010


NSW govt tries to hide CBD Metro documents

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today that she
is disappointed that the government is still working to keep from the
public eye CBD Metro documents that Sir Laurence Street has determined
should be in the public arena (ABC Radio News today).

"The bottom line is that the Premier is still working to keep under
wraps documents relating to the failed CBD Metro project so she can
avoid painful revelations about the mismanagement of this ill-conceived
project," Ms Rhiannon said.

The government was forced to release CBD Metro papers following an
Upper House *call for papers'. 91 boxes of documents were included, 45
were marked *privileged' and Ms Rhiannon asked that 15 boxes worth of
key documents from those marked privileged be released.
 
"Two weeks ago Sir Laurence Street rejected the NSW government's claim
that the disputed documents about the ill-fated CBD Metro project are
privileged and recommended that the majority be released in the public
interest.

"Since then the Government has come to us saying that it could not
agree with Sir Justice Street's ruling as they wanted to protect small
business, but our negotiations showed that they want to protect
themselves.

"The Minister for Transport's office is trying to whittle right down
the papers that it is willing to see released. For example it is trying
to broaden the net to include details of compensation negotiations and
include not just small business but all businesses.

"It became clear in our negotiations that the government was shifting
its position from blacking our minor details, like a businesses' 
account information, to requiring whole documents including details of
compensation bids be excluded.

"The Premier has boasted that the new Freedom of Information regime
that comes into force on July 1 will require the proactive release of
many government documents.

"This stonewalling response from the government to the Greens request
for the release of secret documents reveals that the culture of denying
the public their right to know is alive and well in NSW.

"Our negotiations show that the government's stated concerns for small
business are just window dressing and its real concern is to cover its
back and avoid further embarrassment. 

"Secrecy and mismanagement are the hallmarks of this government and
they can be seen here once more in full flight," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: Lee Rhiannon  9230 3551, 0427 861 568