Shooters Fishers and Farmers MLC Robert Borsak.
It’s not very often that nearly all sides of politics agree on the same thing. This appears to be the case in the ‘upper’ house of the NSW Parliament with the Shooters Fishers and Farmers, Labor, Greens, Christian Democrats and Animal Liberation coming together this week to shine a light on the Coalition Government. Two powerful new super-committees will now be formed to oversee Government projects. SFF upper house member Robert Brown said, “This is a win for the people of New South Wales. Accountability has triumphed over secrecy. Despite the Coalition Government opposing our efforts, both super-committees were established by a vote of 21 in favour to 18 against. This proves that the Legislative Council will not be a rubber stamp for the will of the Government of the day. The Government doesn’t control us, and we were elected by the entire state of New South Wales to act as a house of review on their undertakings. The culture of Government secrecy must end.”
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Member for Orange Philip Donato said, “How can billions of dollars of tax payers’ money be directed to rebuilding serviceable sports stadia for entertainment when the people of Regional New South Wales are in desperate need for basic upgrade and support to roads, health, education and water security? This is the reasonable question people from the country have been asking, but has fallen on the deaf ears of this city-centric government. The Government refused to provide information concerning their decisions on major infrastructure projects, such as the Sydney sports stadiums. “My colleagues, The Hon Robert Brown MLC and the Hon. Robert Borsak MLC, gained the support of the opposition and the cross bench to introduce their two new committees. An accountability committee and a public works committee will work in tandem to investigate the government’s secretive arrangements of all major projects, starting with the Sydney sports stadiums.” Mr Donato said.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MLC Robert Borsak introduced a call for papers in the New South Wales Legislative Council that threatens to challenge the normal ‘Cabinet-in-Confidence’ secrecy provisions used by Government to hide decisions from voters. Mr Borsak’s motion specifically relates to his inquiry into the relocation of the Powerhouse Museum, but could set a precedent that affects all Parliamentary inquiries and media investigations. “Governments of all persuasions try and hide their dirty laundry by declaring it to be ‘Cabinet-in-Confidence’, such declarations have hampered some aspects of my Powerhouse Museum inquiry, and appear to be continually misused by Governments. I have received legal advice that ‘Cabinet-in-Confidence’ declarations only apply to the actual deliberations of Cabinet itself, not any piece of paper that is presented in front of a Minister while they are sitting in a comfy chair. Essentially, the Government waves a wand and magically a report of their choosing is invisible to public scrutiny.
There’s a legitimate place for such declarations to keep Government working, but I believe that this convenience is often misused. If this motion is successful, it will affect all Parliamentary inquiries and media investigations into Government decisions in New South Wales. Mr Borsak introduced his motion in the Legislative Council and will be seeking the support of the Opposition and Crossbench Parliamentarians to pass it in the coming weeks. The National party’s support of the stadium rebuilds is not popular in New South Wales with Deputy Premier John Barilaro now unclear on what will occur with the enormous pieces of infrastructure. He said, “Sometimes as governments and politicians you’ve got to learn to listen, and if there is red hot anger out there, we’ve got to actually take that on board in the final decision.”
