Page 291 - Week 01 - Thursday, 17 February 2011
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Mr Barr: Do you think that freedom of information requests should be secret, do you?
MR STANHOPE: That is a good point. I think it just once again displays the ignorance of Mr Hanson and the Liberals in relation to the operations and administration of government. Of course, ministers are aware of these things but we play and have no role. I think, indeed, that the ultimate response to—
Ms Bresnan: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
Ms Bresnan: The second part of my question was: why does the ACT not release this data when other jurisdictions make it publicly available?
MR STANHOPE: I was just explaining it, Mr Speaker, until Ms Bresnan interrupted. I was just explaining that I am aware that Ms Bresnan has lodged a freedom of information request for this information. As a result of that process and that request, issues around the release, releasability and appropriateness of the release of the information will, of course, be made.
I think, Ms Bresnan, that perhaps the best way I can answer your question is to say that if the information can appropriately be released, it will be released. I will know as much about that as you when your freedom of information request is actioned. Of course, there is a range of reasons why information is not from time to time released—if it is commercially sensitive, cabinet in confidence or if there are other reasons for its non-release.
In relation to this information, Ms Bresnan, I have not seen it. I have not been involved in its release or otherwise. But now that you have initiated a freedom of information request, the question of its releasability and the appropriateness of its release will be tested consistent with the freedom of information guidelines which you have activated.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan, a supplementary question?
MS BRESNAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, given that a free, open-source smartphone application is ready to go when the data is made available, why does ACTION insist on continuing to attempt to develop a closed-source application in-house?
MR STANHOPE: I presume it is fair to say, Ms Bresnan, that ACTION was seeking to meet an identified need or demand, and it would have been seeking to meet that identified need or demand in the context of its available resources and the priority that this particular project was—
Members interjecting—
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