Andrews government ordered to hand over Suburban Rail Loop documents

The Andrews government has been ordered to hand over Suburban Rail Loop documents, after refusing to release the secret files.

The state government is embroiled in another fight for access to secret Suburban Rail Loop documents.

Last month the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) ordered the release of agendas and meeting minutes from the Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA).

Now OVIC has again ordered the release of material the SRLA refused to release to the state opposition under Freedom of Information laws.

Shadow treasurer, David Davis, sought access to a range of documents including an Interdepartmental Committee establishment submission, and a SRL strategic risks document.

He also sought access to a SRLA PowerPoint presentation outlining the top ten success factors of the project, and a copy of the proposed SRLA engagement with key landholders.

Access to the documents was refused with the SRLA citing exceptions under Freedom of Information laws including that the documents were working internal documents and that their release could expose the Suburban Rail Loop Authority to a disadvantage.

But OVIC commissioner Sven Bluemmel disagreed, saying all documents should be released with some redactions to avoid disclosing a deliberation or decision of Cabinet.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Transport Minister Jacinta Allan. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“I consider the public interest in the community being informed about the way in which the Agency (SRLA) performs its statutory functions weighs in favour of release, where disclosure of the risks identified will likely contribute to greater public scrutiny and community participation in the implementation of major infrastructure projects such as the Suburban Rail Loop,” he said.

“The Agency submits disclosure of the documents would likely affect the frankness and candour of Agency officers.

“However, as the Agency officers were engaged in their required duties, I do not accept disclosure would have any material or lasting effect on future advice where they are required to provide advice to the Agency in accordance with their employment responsibilities and relevant public sector values.”

“Having carefully reviewed the information in the documents, I do not consider the specific information sought by the Applicant is particularly sensitive or controversial.

“Rather, it describes, in general terms, governance structures of the SRLA, general information about the project, possible risks affecting the project and how those risks may be mitigated.

“I consider such information is what would reasonably be expected in relation to a public sector project, as managing risk is a critical aspect of public sector governance.”

The Suburban Rail Loop has emerged as a key election issue. Picture: Supplied

The fight to keep the documents secret is the latest in a string of attempts by the government to shield its work from the public.

Shadow Treasurer, David Davis, said the documents pointed at the strategic risks of the project.

“They also, if not blocked by Labor in defiance of the independent umpire’s decision, will reveal details of sequencing options and the views of departmental officers. These key pieces of information not should be withheld form voters ahead of November,” he said.

“The Liberals and Nationals have been very clear this project does not stack up and it should be shelved.”

The Suburban Rail Loop has emerged as a key election issue with the state opposition vowing to shelve it and redirect billions of dollars to the state’s broken health system.

Daniel Andrews has refused to say how much the government believes the rail loop will cost, but has conceded it will be considerably more than the original $50bn price tag.

The parliament’s budget watchdog has warned it could cost taxpayers more than $125bn.

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office this week slammed the government’s business case for the project, stating it does not stack up under the department’s own guidelines.

The office says there is a real risk the value of major projects has been overstated and that the benefit to cost ratio (BCR) of the SRL may really be 0.51.

This figure would mean that just 51c was returned to the economy for every dollar spent on the loop.

The government disputes their VAGO’s findings, arguing different formulas are needed for larger long-term projects.

Originally published as Andrews government ordered to hand over Suburban Rail Loop documents