Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea, has called on the Premier and State Ministers to drive cultural change within their departments and within government.
Speaking in Parliament on the so-called ‘Information Bills’ – designed to make information more readily available and Government more accountable – Mr O’Dea said, “The Premier needs to drive cultural change if these bills are going to operate properly and effectively.”
“The desperate need for cultural change is highlighted by answers or non-answers given by Government Ministers to Questions On Notice,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I recently asked a question on speed cameras in St Ives and two Ministers simply referred the matter to each other, leaving the issue unanswered. In an earlier and even more bazaar case, four Ministers were involved with a question, which was batted from one Minister to another like a ping-pong ball!
“We need Government Ministers and Departments who will take proper responsibility and work openly to provide information in the public interest,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The cultural change needs to extend to the whole of Government, including the Cabinet,” he said.
Mr O’Dea told the Parliament that while the Information Bills “give the Premier power to approve Cabinet documents for public disclosure, they do not provide a list of Cabinet documents for regular release. In line with the spirit of the new information and to ensure a greater level of proactive disclosure of government information legislation, the Premier should release a draft list of Cabinet documents that would be routinely released to the public.”
“The NSW Liberal-Nationals Coalition believes the community has the right to openness, accountability and transparency when it comes to government decision making and information,” Mr O’Dea told Parliament.
“The Premier needs to change the culture of the Government, otherwise the so-called ‘Information Bills’ will be little more than an academic exercise,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
