Right to know: Queenslanders denied access to 665k of govt documents
The latest annual report revealing RTI and Information Privacy applications has revealed the percentage of pages released to applications has fallen to its equal lowest ever. See the list.
QLD Politics
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Queenslanders have been denied access to more than 665,000 pages of government documents requested under information laws in the past year, while forking out more than $624,000 in fees.
The latest annual report detailing Right to Information and Information Privacy applications has also revealed the percentage of pages released to applicants has fallen to the equal lowest level since the Palaszczuk government came to power.
There were almost 17,000 RTI and IP access and amendment applications in the past financial year across all departments – 1553 fewer than in 2020-21, which proved to be an unexpected spike due to the Covid pandemic.
More than 3.5m pages were considered for release – a fall from last year but 220,000 more than in 2019-20.
But the number of pages released under freedom of information laws has fallen to the lowest level since 2016-17, with 81 per cent of pages released in full or part. It means access was refused for more than 665,000 pages.
Queensland Health received the most applications by far with 6239 requests leading to more than 2m pages considered for released, and access allowed for more than 90 per cent.
In contrast, Queensland Police Service received the second highest number of applications at 2415, but refused accessed to more than 76 per cent of all documents considered.
Questions put to Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman were answered by a spokeswoman, who said “the government does not control or decide how many pages are released under the Right to Information and Information Privacy Acts”.
“The Palaszczuk Government places the highest priority on accountability, transparency and integrity within government,” she said.
“That’s why we’ve accepted all the recommendations from Professor Coaldrake’s Report, which will make Queensland the most transparent government in the country.”
She also noted Ms Fentiman had recently announced a review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010, “to better protected public interest disclosure, or ‘whistleblowing,’ which plays an important role in a modern democratic government”.
But LNP integrity spokeswoman Fiona Simpson accused the government of failing to live up to their election promise on transparency.
“The Palaszczuk Government literally went to the 2017 election promising openness and transparency but this again proves after three-terms in power, integrity is now dead and buried in Queensland under Labor,” she said.
“The damning Coaldrake Review exposed a rampant culture within the Palaszczuk Government of deliberately trying to hide information from RTI requests and this report proves the Premier and her Ministers have learnt absolutely nothing.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk cares more about secrecy and cover ups to try hold onto power after eight years instead of being open and transparent to ensure Queenslanders get the truth they deserve.”
TOP DEPARTMENTS BY RTI DENIALS
Queensland Health
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 2,096,394
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 203,497
Total applications: 6239
Queensland Police Service
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 51,473
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 39,439
Total applications: 2415
Queensland Corrective Services
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 502,737
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 70,032
Total applications: 1732
Education
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 178,942
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 71,825
Total applications: 1509
State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 167,752
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 72,359
Total applications: 1408
Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 144,181
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 75,801
Total applications: 1076
Transport and Main Roads
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 31,618
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 13,023
Total applications: 702
Justice and Attorney-General
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 71,026
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 34,991
Total applications: 470
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 32,601
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 13,706
Total applications: 304
Energy and Public Works
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 169,376
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 37,561
Total applications: 260
Environment and Science
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 25,105
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 8412
Total applications: 208
Resources
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 14,080
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 5526
Total applications: 159
Queensland Treasury
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 9930
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 4060
Total applications: 93
Premier and Cabinet
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 5997
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 1606
Total applications: 80
Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 10,777
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 2,729
Total applications: 79
Communities, Housing and Digital Economy
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 8,814
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 2,494
Total applications: 76
Agriculture and Fisheries
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 7618
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 3237
Total applications: 62
Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 8778
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 2592
Total applications: 52
Employment, Small Business and Training
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 3985
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 2079
Total applications: 47
Tourism, Innovation and Sport
Total RTI and IP pages considered: 546
Provisions invoked to refuse access: 210
Total applications: 8
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