>in our view, the correct construction of the relevant provisions is that the time for assessing whether a document is an “official document of a Minister” is the time the request for access is made (and only that time).
Why should ministers or decisions escape scrutiny just because the PM does a reshuffle or a minister resigns? Even in the case of a change of government – decisions of the previous government should be subject to scrutiny as well.
Soft-Butterfly7532 on
Thus must be that “government of transparency” we were promised.
Thomas_633_Mk2 on
Update from the last time this FOI was posted.
A reminder this saga has been going on for so long that:
– The PM the sports rorts occurred under has lost majority, won his seat but retired
– The AG this was under has resigned in disgrace
– the government has changed and McKenzie is no longer sports minister
– the senator bringing the FoI has changed parties, lost his seat, lost being Lord Mayor by an admittedly very narrow margin, and is now ~~a private citizen~~ running for Senate as a candidate for JLN.
The ride truly never ends, does it? I’m sure I’ll be digging this comment out again in two months when there’s another appeal.
4 Comments
>in our view, the correct construction of the relevant provisions is that the time for assessing whether a document is an “official document of a Minister” is the time the request for access is made (and only that time).
https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/full/2024/2024fcafc0126
Seems like a good, common sense decision to me.
Why should ministers or decisions escape scrutiny just because the PM does a reshuffle or a minister resigns? Even in the case of a change of government – decisions of the previous government should be subject to scrutiny as well.
Thus must be that “government of transparency” we were promised.
Update from the last time this FOI was posted.
A reminder this saga has been going on for so long that:
– The PM the sports rorts occurred under has lost majority, won his seat but retired
– The AG this was under has resigned in disgrace
– the government has changed and McKenzie is no longer sports minister
– the senator bringing the FoI has changed parties, lost his seat, lost being Lord Mayor by an admittedly very narrow margin, and is now ~~a private citizen~~ running for Senate as a candidate for JLN.
The ride truly never ends, does it? I’m sure I’ll be digging this comment out again in two months when there’s another appeal.