Right to know shot to pieces
SECRET PARKS DEALS
AFTER all the publicity with the “your right to know” campaign covered so well by the Mercury it is somewhat disappointing to learn of “State’s secret parks deal” and “Gutwein defends secrecy” ( Mercury, October 24). I am a huge advocate for ongoing tourism and development in Tasmania for all the economic reasons but am concerned with the controversial Lake Malbena project getting the thumbs up at this point in time! As a keen fisherman myself I have no problem with the overall plan provided it ticks all the boxes pledged by the operators. But I do have a problem with “terms and conditions for licences and leases will be hidden forever — as they are commercial-in-confidence”. Hence our democratic right to know is again shot to pieces. Hmm! with more secretive EOI proposals in the pipeline that will not see the light of day (and thus escape public scrutiny) is frustrating and smacks of paternalism, cowardice and an autocratic mindset. The community expects to be informed and involved in decision-making, which will result in long-term impacts on our land.
Silence, obfuscation, selective PR releases that cite “commercial in confidence” simply build community suspicion and mistrust. I may be part of the Silent Majority on many topics but when it comes to handover of public assets without disclosure and rigorous and healthy debate, this, Minister Gutwein, is a step too far. PS, Feel free to “steal this idea”. out of The Goon Show. The secrecy is transparently designed to avoid scrutiny and ease the way for the irreversible loss, in the mid-range tourism industry, of Tasmania’s claim to maintain “wilderness”. Minister Gutwein exhorts us to “trust the Government”. I’ve followed the avalanche of reports and “masterplan” publications all paid for by the Government with the intention of obscuring grounds to question its decisions.
“Trust the Government”! You must be joking. When served by a political organisation with little but the immediate dollar as its limited horizon, and its social sensitivity bogged down in the 1970s, there’s very little left to trust … or hope for.
Name games
DEAR Pete, I have a commercial-in-confidence idea for the title of your upcoming autobiography: Of Propeller Heads & Secret Squirrel Business. Please send the appropriate share of royalties to the address below. Yours …
Climate change starts at home
WELL and good protesting for environmental change, but a reminder are those protesting turning off standby switches in their homes, are they buying fruit trees to plant in gardens, are they using just one car for transport, are they recycling the correct way?
Soft targets
WITH Australia’s current agenda of pursuing a soft diplomacy strategy with its nearby Pacific Island nations with new and increased expenditure on infrastructure for example, the Chinese ownership of the Port of Darwin may not go unnoticed by Australia’s targeted neighbours.