❓ Ms. Davies (Nationals) questions the Premier on FOI requests lodged by the Nationals, pressing him on transparency promises and FOI unit resources. The Premier deflects, citing frivolous FOI requests as a strain on resources and accusing the opposition of hindering the process.
AnsweredQoN 671Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION APPLICATIONS
671. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I note
that my question was in relation to freedom of information requests lodged by
the Nationals since May last year. Will the Premier uphold his claim that his
government will strengthen governance, accountability and transparency across
government; will he increase resources to the FOI unit; or, if not, will he
apologise for breaking his promise to provide gold standard transparency in
government?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
671. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I note
that my question was in relation to freedom of information requests lodged by
the Nationals since May last year. Will the Premier uphold his claim that his
government will strengthen governance, accountability and transparency across
government; will he increase resources to the FOI unit; or, if not, will he
apologise for breaking his promise to provide gold standard transparency in
government?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
AnswerView source ↗
It is hard for me to answer that question
considering I do not have my notes any more. The reality is that if members put
a lot of frivolous and meaningless FOIs, as I just demonstrated, it puts the
public servants under huge pressure. The journalists cannot get theirs answered
and members of the public cannot get theirs answered, but the unit is working
as hard as —
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please, the
member asked me a question and now she is just interjecting incessantly.
Ms M.J. Davies : Well, you're
not answering it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : What did you
say?
Ms M.J. Davies : You're
not answering it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You did not.
Ms M.J. Davies : I did so.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If you put in
a lot of frivolous applications —
Mrs L.M. Harvey : If you don't
answer parliamentary questions, we have to FOI.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker, I am
trying to answer the question.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough, I call you to order for the first time. You know better than that.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Obviously, if
the number of FOIs are doubled, the unit is going to be under pressure. I believe
in FOI; I want FOIs to be answered. All I would ask the opposition to do is for
there to be a little —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member
asks for accountability and she will not even let me answer.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range.
Mr M. McGOWAN : All I say to
the opposition is that it should do a little bit of coordination. It should
make sure it works out the information it actually wants, and not ask huge,
broad freedom of information questions that cannot possibly ever be answered,
as they never have been in the last 30 years.
considering I do not have my notes any more. The reality is that if members put
a lot of frivolous and meaningless FOIs, as I just demonstrated, it puts the
public servants under huge pressure. The journalists cannot get theirs answered
and members of the public cannot get theirs answered, but the unit is working
as hard as —
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please, the
member asked me a question and now she is just interjecting incessantly.
Ms M.J. Davies : Well, you're
not answering it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : What did you
say?
Ms M.J. Davies : You're
not answering it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You did not.
Ms M.J. Davies : I did so.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If you put in
a lot of frivolous applications —
Mrs L.M. Harvey : If you don't
answer parliamentary questions, we have to FOI.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker, I am
trying to answer the question.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough, I call you to order for the first time. You know better than that.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Obviously, if
the number of FOIs are doubled, the unit is going to be under pressure. I believe
in FOI; I want FOIs to be answered. All I would ask the opposition to do is for
there to be a little —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member
asks for accountability and she will not even let me answer.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range.
Mr M. McGOWAN : All I say to
the opposition is that it should do a little bit of coordination. It should
make sure it works out the information it actually wants, and not ask huge,
broad freedom of information questions that cannot possibly ever be answered,
as they never have been in the last 30 years.
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