The Greens welcome the government’s support for most of the recommendations made in the Review of Tasmania’s Right to Information Framework. That said, the number of recommendations accepted only in principle – or not at all – won’t reassure Tasmanians the Premier is truly committed to reforming the culture of secrecy within the government.
The review into Tasmania’s right to information framework, by Professors Tim McCormack and Rick Snell, found there was a culture of secrecy within the Liberal Government. In the wake of these serious findings, the Greens expected all recommendations would be accepted by the government in full.
While Professors McCormack and Snell made 43 recommendations, the government have only accepted 31 of them – with 15 of these being accepted in principle only. Recommendations accepted in principle only often express qualifications which could mean reform is not progressed as needed.
Among reforms not supported by the Rockliff Government is increasing funding to the Ombudsman and the proactive release of Cabinet papers. These recommendations are important changes to increase public transparency on the decisions made by government, and it’s telling the Liberals haven’t accepted them.
While the Liberal Government’s response to the RTI review provides some hope of reform, the proof will be in the pudding for a government which has a serious problem with transparency. For too long, the Liberals have been perfectly happy letting information, which belongs to Tasmanians and should be released, languish in the dark.
The Premier must show the leadership needed to reform the culture of secrecy within his government. He needs to drive the implementation of the recommendations from this report and improve Tasmanians’ trust in democracy.
