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Upper House orders release of more secret CBD Metro papers
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has welcomed the decision of the NSW government to support the Greens motion requiring more secret CBD Metro documents to be made public in line with the determination of the former Chief Justice Sir Laurence Street.
The Greens motion passed today by the NSW Upper House requires that CBD Metro documents be released by Monday 5 July 2010.
"The lengthy negotiations with the office of the Transport Minister has resulted in a good outcome for the public as the NSW government has dropped its privilege claim on many of the documents about the ill-fated CBD Metro project," Ms Rhiannon said.
"It is clear that the government unjustly claimed privilege to shield itself from any criticism that could arise when these documents are scrutinised.
"Once Sir Laurence Street's determination was received the government should have been proactive in releasing information on the CBD Metro to the public.
"This failed infrastructure project has cost the public about half a billion dollars and they have a right to know what happened.
"Releasing these documents is critical to learning the lessons for future public transport plans.
"The government should have driven this process if they had a commitment to open government and quality public transport outcomes.
"If Labor had the numbers in the Upper House it is a fair assumption this material would never have been released.
"The government had to be dragged to this agreement by the NSW Upper House.
"This experience does not bode well for new Freedom of Information laws due to start on July 1," Ms Rhiannon said.
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