No response to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on Truck Action Plan
- Details
- Wednesday, 16 November 2011 10:13
The Baillieu Government’s pledge to be open and transparent is being severely tested after three relatively straightforward freedom of information (FOI) applications were not responded to within the 45 day timeframe, says Member for Williamstown, Wade Noonan MP.
Mr Noonan made three separate FOI applications relating to both the Truck Action Plan and WestLink in late September. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 provides for a period of 45 days within which the Government must advise of their decision to release documents.
“The Baillieu Government said they would be open and transparent, but what we are seeing is the exact opposite,” Mr Noonan said.
“They’ve told our community nothing about the Truck Action Plan and now they’re flouting the law by not releasing documents under freedom of information.”
“Residents in Yarraville have a right to this information.”
Mr Noonan requested a range of documents including:
• Correspondence between the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments relating to the Truck Action Plan and WestLink projects;
• Documents prepared by the Department of Transport and VicRoads relating to the Truck Action Plan and Westlink projects, including Ministerial briefings, memos, possible parliamentary questions, media releases or speaking notes.
“Given the Baillieu Government has had the Truck Action Plan under review for almost 12 months now, I’d be extremely surprised if the Minister hadn’t requested a Ministerial briefing in that time,” Mr Noonan said.
“Roads Minister, Terry Mulder has also stated publicly that he would be talking to the Commonwealth Government about the Truck Action Plan. If that’s the case, then surely there must be some correspondence available for release under our FOI laws.”
“I don’t think anyone in our community expects a Liberal Government to invest in Melbourne’s west, but this process of suppressing documents is completely undemocratic.”
“The previous Labor Government worked very hard to win support for the Truck Action Plan and allocated $40 million to commence the first of three stages of the truck bypass route.”
“With a stroke of a pen, the Baillieu Government could remove more than one million trucks annually off local roads in the inner west by committing to the Truck Action Plan.”
Mr Noonan has also placed a number of questions on notice to the Victorian Minister for Environment, but is yet to receive a response.
