Page 2793 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (4.26): The Canberra Liberals will be opposing this amendment. These provisions are currently pretty much the same as they are in the current 1989 act and, as such, I do not think it is an onerous imposition on the public service.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (4.27): As indicated, I will be opposing this amendment.
Amendment negatived.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change) (4.27): I move amendment No 26 circulated in my name [see schedule 2 at page 2854]. This deals with consultation with third parties.
Government amendment 26 extends the amount of time provided to consult third parties where third-party information is the subject of an access application from 15 to 20 working days. This will give third parties more time to consider information that affects them and gives agencies time to incorporate this advice into their decision-making. Consultation with third parties is a fundamental part of the current FOI scheme and this new bill. Providing sufficient time for consultation with third parties will assist them where the information being considered is substantial or where the third party is seeking legal advice.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (4.28): I will be opposing this amendment. The bill provides 15 working days for third parties to comment and extends a time frame for decisions accordingly. I would note that under the Queensland legislation it is, in fact, only 10 working days. So the bill already does provide some further generosity on top of that.
Amendment negatived.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change) (4.29): I move amendment No 45 circulated in my name [see schedule 2 at page 2854]. This amendment relates to fee waivers, and would remove the proposal for automatic fee waiver for members of the Legislative Assembly.
While the government has adopted the approach of waiver of fees in circumstances where the information that is sought is of special benefit to the public and the information requested by concession cardholders and not-for-profit organisations with a material connection to the information, the government is of the view that it is not appropriate to give special dispensation to members of the Legislative Assembly at the expense of the community. A blanket fee waiver for MLAs would place them in a more favourable position than other members of the community, including journalists, who would still need to make an application for any fee waiver under this bill.
It is the government’s view that MLAs should have the same ability to apply for access to information as any other member of the community and the same ability to
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video