Article-Liberals blasted for ‘shameful RTI farce’
The Mercury| 27 June 2024; pg 13.
Liberals blasted for ‘shameful RTI farce’
David Killick
The state government’s “doesn’t have a transparent bone in its body,” Labor leader Dean Winter says.
A government report into ways to improve the Right to Information system was heavily redacted before being released under RTI laws a year
after it was completed.
Liberal minister Jo Palmer defended the system on Wednesday.
“The RTI process is completely at arm’s length from government,” she said.
“We don’t play a role in that process. What we are doing is we’re having a review of the RTI process. And from that, we’ll see is there anything that we can do to improve it.”
Mr Winter said the government had form.
“The government does not have a transparent bone in its body,” he said.
“They can’t do transparency. They’ve learned over 10 years to keep everything they possibly can a secret.
“The issues around the cuts to our health system don’t come from a government announcement, they come from a leaked memo, where they have said very clearly there that they have a massive budget issue and that they are looking at vacancy control to deal with those matters.”
Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor said the report was symbolic of an issue many had been complaining about for years.
“It’s ironic to see a report into Tasmania’s Right to Information kept secret until its release was forced through a Right to Information request,”
she said.
“Worse still, significant parts of the report – the solutions it proposes, no less – are redacted.
“This ridiculous situation lays bare what a shameful farce RTI has become under the Liberals.”
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb called for an overhaul of the RTI culture to bring it back in alignment with the spirit and intent of the laws.
“Throwing money at our congested RTI system will not fix the problem on its own,” she said.
“We also need a comprehensive cultural change.”
