Albanese government tying itself in knots to keep document secret

What is so sensitive in the incoming government summary of the Department of Climate Change that the Albanian Government has made the Senate to keep secret?

For a government promising more transparency into office Document written shortly after the May elections The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is surprising. But then again, analysis by the Center for Public Integrity earlier this year privacy has actually increased It is under labor compared to the previous Morrison government.

A. hearing In Senate estimates yesterday, Knots provided a perfect example of government bureaucrats tying themselves up to try to justify such secrecy.

Officials within the department were told that the Senate had resolved three times to request the release of the summary under what is known as an order for the production of documents – most recently on August 26. to answer The request was essentially ignored by Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, published last Friday.

For context, the department had responded to an earlier freedom of information (FOI) request. Second Volume in Briefthe complete exclusion of the first volume.

Still, Bowen responded to the request for “full volumes” of the brief by saying: “Incoming government briefings Freedom of Information Act 1982. In response to this request, in response to this request, Freedom of Information Act. “

The circular reasoning employed there is bizarre, and the Senate hearing did little to clear it up.

DCCEEW official Michelle Croker, who decided not to release the entire document under FOI, explained that she made the call because it was “information that is subject to legal professional privilege, matters of intent, whose disclosure would be contrary to the public interest and whose release would involve unreasonable disclosure of personal information”.

Still, there was no explanation for what the government would have to do to avoid complying with the Senate order. One of the few points of clarity was that no public interest immunity claim was made. Finally, DCCEEW officials asked them to respond to the notice.

Crrikey There was no response to an email to the Bowen Office sent yesterday and that the limitations under FOI Act There was indeed fair justification for denying the Senate access to a document and whether an independent evaluation of the document had been conducted before denying the Senate’s order.

Western Australian Liberal Senator Dean Smith, who ordered the articles produced by Bowen’s office, later said the secrecy was “unacceptable”.

“The Albanian government claims to be committed to transparency while refusing to release the full incoming government summary,” he said. Crikey.

“Given the Senate has agreed on multiple occasions that this document should be provided, the excuses Labor has made for not being able to do so are unacceptable – and suggest there is something to hide.”