Premier vows transparency

TASMANIA does not deserve the label “the secret state” but the government will work to improve transparency, Premier Peter Gutwein says.

Mr Gutwein met Tasmanian Ombudsman Richard Connock on Friday to discuss ways of improving the application of Right to Information laws.

In parliamentary budget estimates committee hearings on Monday, Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said secrecy was a “feature not a glitch” of the Tasmanian political system.

“Don’t you agree there is a cultural problem here that needs addressing as a matter on urgency?” she said. Mr Gutwein disagreed.

“I reject that Tasmania is Australia’s most secret state, however there are always things we can improve,” he said. “I would like to make it clear that this government has released more information to the public than ever before.”

Mr Gutwein pledged to release the long- delayed report into the state’s electoral donation laws in the new year.

He said there was a need for more consistent approach to sharing information.

“We tend to operate our agencies as silos and we need to have more of a whole of government approach,” he said.

He said the government gave $ 240,000 for a parliament website revamp to make information publicly available.

Ms O’Connor said she was hopeful of change.

“There is a cultural and systemic tendency towards secrecy on the part of the Tasmanian government,” she said. “So if the premier is serious about changing it that would be a great day for Tasmania, because good governments have nothing to hide.”

Labor leader Rebecca White said she would believe it when she saw it.