See the list: How many Freedom of Information requests has your council rejected?

Since mid-2015, about 1500 FOI requests have been lodged with Adelaide councils – but 60 per cent were blocked or partially censored. How does your council rate?

Adelaide councils are avoiding public scrutiny by refusing ratepayers’ requests to access scores of secret documents.

Figures kept by Records SA show since June 2015 about 1500 requests have been made to 16 metropolitan councils using the Freedom of Information Act. However, nearly 60 per cent of the applications have been either blocked outright or resulted in the release of documents that were partially redacted.

SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo praised some councils and government departments for their willingness to release documents but questioned why others were so secretive.

“In my experience there are some that flagrantly fail to meet their statutory requirement of addressing FOI requests in timely fashion,’’ he said.

“One of the most notable exceptions, to their credit, is SAPOL. In other cases, my office has had to deal with stalling tactics and it can sometimes take months to have them answered.”

In total, Records SA figures show councils released in full documents sought by ratepayers 626 times, hid some of the documents 600 times and hid all of the documents 309 times.

Records SA data showing the Freedom of Information applications processed by each Adelaide council since July, 2015.

A spokesman for Marion Council, which released fewer documents than any other said the provisions in the Act preventing release were strictly adhered to.

He said this stopped the release of documents involving personal affairs, law enforcement or legal professional privilege, or those deemed secret.

One council which has improved its record is Onkaparinga, which before the current council was elected on an accountability ticket in 2018 was heavily criticised by ratepayers for secrecy.

“Our community has been very clear that transparency is the cornerstone of building greater trust and we have listened,” said Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson.

“In February we launched an online Transparency Portal, as further demonstration of this council’s willingness to be accountable for our actions and serve our community with integrity.

“It will also help our residents to better understand council decisions, activities and operations.”

Councils are refusing to release secret documents to ratepayers.

Onkaparinga Council Watch spokeswoman Yvonne Wenham said many of the reasons for not releasing information had been “comical if not ridiculous”.

“In one example the (former) CEO refused release because ‘we were not saying nice things about him on social media’ which was hilarious but sadly true,’’ she said.

“What’s worse was we were required to go through a lengthy appeal process where the Ombudsman directed full release of the documents. These processes are at times simply used by councils to obstruct access to matters in the public interest.

“Some requests take three months or longer to obtain what should be pretty straightforward release of documents.”

Ratepayers must pay around $30 for each application to see deliberations about common council issues like roads, rates and rubbish.

The Act sets out reasons why access can be refused, such as “commercial in confidence” details for private companies, or refusal to pay fees.

Councils are not allowed to hide documents to avoid negative community attention.

But a refusal can mean lengthy appeals to the State Ombudsman and even the District Court, before documents are finally released.