ABC Online: Australia: Friday,
March 10, 2017.
Greens leader
Cassy O'Connor has used Parliament to accuse the Government of meddling in
Right to Information (RTI) releases, after she received a response to one
longstanding request late on the last sitting day of Parliament.
The Greens
RTI request, seeking details about how much out-of-home care provider Safe
Pathways was paid by the State Government, was returned on Tuesday, three
months after the party lodged it.
Last week,
Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma was forced to correct the record about
her knowledge of a delayed RTI from the ABC, also relating to Safe Pathways.
Ms O'Connor,
under parliamentary privilege, accused the department of releasing only tender
documents and ensuring anything with new information was withheld.
"We have
been provided with no information of any relevance relating to the financials
and concerns of Safe Pathways," Ms O'Connor said.
"Its
clear to any rational person reading these documents that the intent was not to
release information.
"This is
one of the most disgraceful Right to Information episodes that I have ever been
part of."
Ms O'Connor
said she would appeal the return of her request.
Ms Petrusma
said RTI requests are addressed at arm's length by a specific officer.
"Last
week, Ms O'Connor was falsely claiming the Minister is interfering; this week
she wants her to interfere," she said.
Labor
continues to hammer Petrusma
As the Lower
House of Parliament was about to adjourn for the week, Labor leader Bryan Green
stood up for a final attack on the Ms Petrusma.
It followed
three days of Labor questioning the Minister about her knowledge of complaints
against an out-of-home care provider, Key Assets.
Earlier this
week, Ms Petrusma told Parliament her office was first made aware of the
allegations on January 25 and an investigation had begun at that time.
Mr Green
referred to an interview Key Assets CEO Caroline Brown gave to commercial radio
on Thursday morning, where she was asked about the specifics of the
department's investigation.
"We've
been contacted by the Department today to say that the first stage of their
investigation is a fact check, and they will be forwarding through a list of
questions for us to respond to in the next 24 hours," Ms Brown said.
"We've
been accused all week of making false allegations by this Minister," Mr
Green told Parliament.
"She
must go. The Premier must sack her."
In response,
Ms Petrusma said: "Mr Green's latest confected claims are pathetic."
She said a
complaint received on January 25 was investigated by the department, as per
normal processes.
An email received
by her office very early on Saturday outlined similar and further concerns to
those of January 25.
"This
has been forwarded to the Department for action and is the subject of further
investigation," she said.
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