THE O'Farrell government has been accused of operating under a ''cloak of secrecy'', with government departments going to extraordinary lengths to block the release of information - including asking for $13,000 for statistics from a hospital.
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When in opposition, Barry O'Farrell's Liberal Party declared: ''The community has the right to openness, accountability and transparency [in] government decision-making and information.''
Its pre-election promises included abolishing the $30 fee for freedom-of-information requests and the creation of a ''fully independent Open Government Commissioner'' attached to the NSW Ombudsman's office. Neither has been honoured.
Labor and Greens MPs say the government is claiming documents don't exist when they do, charging up to $60 an hour to process simple requests, hiding behind the excuse of ''cabinet in confidence'' and blacking out whole swathes of documents. Examples include:
The Greens MLC John Kaye asked about casual staff at Coffs Harbour Base Hospital and how many had been employed for longer than 12 weeks. The right to information manager at the Mid North Coast Local Health District, Chris Chick, replied it would cost $13,262 to retrieve the information. That included an estimated 51.5 hours at $36 an hour to check the database.
Labor MLC Walt Secord asked about the use of Tasers by police. He was told the information was not available and providing it would be an ''unreasonable diversion'' of resources. Using the Government Information (Public Access) Amendment Act he got the data, which showed a boy aged 16 and an 84-year-old man had been Tasered, causing his wife to have a heart attack.
The Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham requested information about compensation if the government cancelled the controversial petroleum exploration licences that have allowed the development of the coal seam gas industry. The Premier told 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones he would provide the advice but when asked by Mr Buckingham, the Premier's office blocked six of seven relevant documents.
