Wilkie: RTI probe needed
TASMANIA’S right- to- information laws are “broken” and an inquiry into the state’s culture of secrecy is needed, federal MP Andrew Wilkie says.
The independent member for Clark has written to the Integrity Commission asking it to look into the operation of the laws, which are supposed to help citizens extract information from government.
Mr Wilkie said that was not happening in Tasmania and the pattern of refusals to release information could be found to be misconduct.
“Right to Information laws are not working as they should,” Mr Wilkie wrote in his letter to Integrity Commission chief executive Michael Easton. “I urge you to investigate whether the culture of secrecy oozing from the state government has infected the public sector and potentially facilitated misconduct.
“I am not accusing individual RTI officers of misconduct. Rather I am asking whether the culture of secrecy has placed them in a position where they feel unable to correctly apply the RTI Act.”
A spokesman for the state government said the Premier and Attorney- General recently met with the Ombudsman in relation to RTIs and his annual report to see what could be done to improve transparency within the Act, and seek his views on that matter.
Mr Wilkie also called for an audit of salmon leases, following revelations Tassal has been permitted to operate outside of industrial noise regulations.
“The community would be shocked to learn that there’s at least one fish farm close to shore with no noise restrictions,” Mr Wilkie said. “These are inherently noisy 24- hour operations, many near quiet shack hamlets, and we need to ensure the residents are protected.
Environment Tasmania strategy director Laura Kelly said: “Failing to regulate industrial noise levels isn’t just bad for people who live near Tassal’s floating factories, it’s bad for marine mammals like endangered whales, who are vulnerable to loud and prolonged noise.”
Environment Protection Authority director Wes Ford said night- time noise limits were being developed for fish farms.