Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said following the release of the list of Cabinet documents for the Labor Government’s first year in 2002 he would lodge 221 separate requests for documents today.
Now the wait for the actual release of Labor Government documents begins!
Given the Labor Government’s past performance under Freedom of Information laws, there is great concern that the more controversial and important Cabinet documents won’t be released before the March 2014 state election.
“Whilst the guidelines indicate documents should be released in 30 days, the reality is some documents are not released for up to two years,” Mr Lucas said.
“If Mr Weatherill’s claim that he would be transparent and accountable is to be believed, then he should ensure resources within his Department are reallocated to ensure the release of documents within reasonable timelines.”
Some of the Cabinet documents sought include:
• The Speaker’s Compact for Good Governance: Funding for a Constitutional Convention – and related documents
• 2002/03 Budget documents – including increasing gaming machine taxes contrary to a written promise from Labor to the AHA
• Continuation of privatisation contract for movement of prisoners
• Series of documents increasing resources/staffing to Independent MPs
• Series of documents relating to termination of employment of various public servants
• Mitsubishi Motors Aust Ltd
• Government purchases of renewable and conventional electricity
• One million trees program
• Improving major IT project investment in SA public sector
• Infrastructure provision to SAMAG project.
