Greens to amend new FOI bill to include Parliament

The Open Government Information Bill 2009 is due for debate in both houses this week.

The NSW Ombudsman’s 2009 final report recommended NSW Parliament be
subject to FOI laws (rec 29).

“The Greens amendments will open up to public scrutiny how MPs’
spend their entitlements, creating an important safeguard against
rorting. This is in line with the UK, India, Ireland, South Africa and
Scotland which all subject Parliament to FOI,” Ms Rhiannon said.
 
The Greens amendments will also narrow the exclusions covering cabinet
documents, strengthen the objects clause, reduce the new lengthier
timeframes for dealing with FOI requests and subject information now
caught by a blanket FOI exemption to a public interest test.

“The new freedom of information bill is a very good bill and holds
hope for a dramatic culture change. The Premier’s big failure,
however, is his decision to reject NSW Ombudsman’s recommendations
that NSW Parliament be subject to FOI laws.

 “NSW Parliament was allocated $123 million in last week’s budget,
with over $100 million to be spent on “member’s support”. This
large chunk of taxpayers’ money should not be sheltered from freedom
of information laws.

"The government has made no compelling argument for why the NSW
Parliament should be excluded, relying on advice from the President of
the Legislative Assembly and Speaker in the Legislative Council.

“Self interest is the real reason why the Rees government refuses to
subject NSW Parliament to FOI.

“It should no longer be the case that MPs are free to spend their
generous salaries and allowances without scrutiny, except when there’s
a leak pursued by a tenacious journalist.

”It is time the government turned the light on this bloated system of
pay and entitlements.

“Premier Rees’ reputation as a freedom of information champion will
be undermined if he fails to come to the party on this issue”, ” Ms
Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568