MPs back overhaul of Victorian suppression orders and transparency laws

Pressure is mounting on the Andrews Government to take action on transparency as MPs warn a veil of secrecy is engulfing the state after it was revealed Victoria’s courts were the most secret.

Victoria’s excessive use of gag orders and increasingly difficult Freedom of Information regime is being slammed by state MPs who are calling for a transparency overhaul.

Pressure is mounting on the Andrews Government to put a stop to the veil of secrecy engulfing the state after it was revealed Victoria’s courts were the most secret.

Since 2017, 1204 suppression orders have been enacted in Victoria — compared to 490 in New South Wales.

MPs also hit out at the state’s FOI laws, saying they were increasingly being used to stifle information rather than release documents, with little avenue for appeal.

The lack of action has outraged Liberal MP Edward O’Donohue.

It can also be revealed new state agencies are also being granted FOI exemptions in legislation, further frustrating transparency for the community, victims of crime and journalists.

Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick said he was “certainly concerned” and his party was actively looking at avenues to force the government’s hand on the issue.

“Certainly there needs to be questions asked in terms of the numbers of suppression orders,” he said.

“Victoria stands out like a sore thumb and we have concerns about transparency.”

Mr Limbrick said several steps could be taken to curb the use of gag orders as well as improving FOI access and did not rule out calling for a parliamentary inquiry.

In 2017, an independent review of the Open Courts Act 2013 was conducted by former Supreme Court of Appeal judge Frank Vincent, which included 18 recommendations, 17 of which received the Labor Government’s support.

However, two years on, many of the recommendations have not been implemented.

The lack of action has outraged Liberal MP Edward O’Donohue, who said the Andrews Government was “failing victims of crime”.

“At a time when the Victorian justice system is facing its biggest ever crisis, it is critical that these important reforms be implemented to provide greater transparency and public confidence in the justice system,” he said.

RELATED

CALLS TO OVERHAUL VICTORIA’S SUPPRESSION LAWS

WHEN GOVERNMENT HOLDS BACK TRUTH, WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?

WHAT THE RIGHT TO KNOW COALITION WANTS

1. The right to contest any kind of search warrant on journalists or news organisations before the warrant is issued

2. Law change to ensure public sector whistleblowers are adequately protected

3. New regime that limits which documents can be marked “secret”

4. Review of Freedom of Information laws

5. Journalists to be exempt from national security laws enacted over the past seven years that currently can put them in jail for doing their job

6. Reform of defamation laws

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