Secret cabinet documents released after integrity delays revealed

The Queensland Government has released previously secret cabinet documents after The Courier-Mail revealed a delay to the implementation of a key integrity measure.

Professor Peter Coaldrake (left) meets with Premier Steven Miles.

The Queensland Government has released previously secret cabinet documents after The Courier-Mail revealed a delay to the implementation of a key integrity measure recommended by Professor Peter Coaldrake.

On the same day it was revealed the release of documents would not occur until May 10 after previously being slated for the end of April, Premier Steven Miles on Thursday said he had brought the release forward “ in recognition of our commitment to transparency”.

“Documents released today outline the final implementation report for the integrity reform taskforce, and the First Nations Housing and Homelessness Roadmap announced earlier this month,” he said.

“My government is focused on supporting all Queenslanders, and the release of Cabinet documents will serve to emphasise the great work we are doing every day in all communities across the state.

“I want to thank the team that has worked hard to put the scheme together since the Coaldrake report was handed down, and for their ongoing efforts to ensure documents are published promptly.”

Documents from a March 25 meeting were the first to be released, though the proactive release is limited to where a final decision has been made by Cabinet.

It comes after the state government had missed its own deadline to proactively release Cabinet documents as recommended by Professor Coaldrake’s landmark integrity review, after Premier Steven Miles previously promised they would be made public by the end of April.

Queensland’s move to release Cabinet documents every 30 days, as opposed to keeping them secret for 30 years, was described by the former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as revolutionary.

Mr Miles told parliament in February he wanted to make the Queensland government the most transparent in Australia.

“I said from day one that I would work every day to earn the trust of Queenslanders,” he said.

“Governing with integrity plays a big and important role in building that trust.

“I can announce the first documents set for release will be the last Cabinet meeting in March.

“Those documents will be available in April.”

Next month will mark two years since Professor Coaldrake’s Let the Sunshine In report was published, including with the recommendation to make cabinet documents public within 30 days.

Professor Coaldrake was the first external meeting Mr Miles held following his ascension to Premier – a move he said demonstrated his commitment to transparency.

But the LNP Opposition took aim at the delay, with integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson accusing the government of “hiding behind cabinet-in-confidence on decisions about the big issues like youth crime, housing, health and cost of living”.

“Steven Miles is just as bad as Annastacia Palaszczuk,” she said.

“Queenslanders can’t trust anything this Premier says, it’s clear Steven Miles will do and say anything to win an election.

“Despite promising to ‘let the sunshine in’ on Cabinet’s secret decisions, Steven Miles has instead chosen to keep Queenslanders in the dark about his government’s dodgy decisions.”