Mr BONSON - 2001-10-23
Can the Chief Minister tell the House the significance of the discussion paper and draft information bill tabled in this House today?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for Millner for his question. This is indeed a momentous day for Territorians. For many long years, Labor fought to have the CLP administration introduce legislation to provide access to information and protect the information privacy of Territorians. Time and time again, the Country Liberal Party administration refused. In fact, the then Chief Minister, now Leader of the Opposition, referred to freedom of information legislation as: ‘A sham and a farce’. He said that he did not believe in FOI legislation. He said that he considered it unnecessary and overly bureaucratic. He said he did not believe that Territorians wanted access to government information. Perhaps he should have listened more closely to Territorians.
The significance of the tabling of this draft bill and discussion paper is that this government has fulfilled our promise to Territorians. We said we would introduce freedom of information legislation. We said we would do it as soon as we could. This is draft legislation and a discussion paper that goes into the parliament today. We promised to introduce legislation to extend, as far as possible, the right of all Territorians to access information held by the Territory government. This draft bill does that. We promised to balance the right of access with the protection of personal privacy. This draft bill strikes that balance. This is very important legislation. Freedom of information will enhance government decision making and discussion. It is a pillar of open and accountable government and one that was very sadly lacking under the previous administration.
We will have an extensive program of community consultation because we have introduced this draft legislation. This is a bill, this is legislation for all Territorians. We want feedback from the community generally, we want feedback from the business community, all aspects of the community, so that this is a bill that is owned by the Territory. Territorians have said very loudly and clearly they want freedom of information and this bill must be Territorians’ bill. I look forward to the introduction of the final bill next year.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for Millner for his question. This is indeed a momentous day for Territorians. For many long years, Labor fought to have the CLP administration introduce legislation to provide access to information and protect the information privacy of Territorians. Time and time again, the Country Liberal Party administration refused. In fact, the then Chief Minister, now Leader of the Opposition, referred to freedom of information legislation as: ‘A sham and a farce’. He said that he did not believe in FOI legislation. He said that he considered it unnecessary and overly bureaucratic. He said he did not believe that Territorians wanted access to government information. Perhaps he should have listened more closely to Territorians.
The significance of the tabling of this draft bill and discussion paper is that this government has fulfilled our promise to Territorians. We said we would introduce freedom of information legislation. We said we would do it as soon as we could. This is draft legislation and a discussion paper that goes into the parliament today. We promised to introduce legislation to extend, as far as possible, the right of all Territorians to access information held by the Territory government. This draft bill does that. We promised to balance the right of access with the protection of personal privacy. This draft bill strikes that balance. This is very important legislation. Freedom of information will enhance government decision making and discussion. It is a pillar of open and accountable government and one that was very sadly lacking under the previous administration.
We will have an extensive program of community consultation because we have introduced this draft legislation. This is a bill, this is legislation for all Territorians. We want feedback from the community generally, we want feedback from the business community, all aspects of the community, so that this is a bill that is owned by the Territory. Territorians have said very loudly and clearly they want freedom of information and this bill must be Territorians’ bill. I look forward to the introduction of the final bill next year.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016