Andrews government may be forced to release agendas and meeting minutes from the Suburban Rail Loop Authority

The state government is being accused of a cover-up in its bid to keep agendas and meeting minutes from the Suburban Rail Loop Authority a secret.

The state government is fighting the release of secret documents over the divisive $125bn Suburban Rail Loop project.

The project has emerged as a key election issue with the Opposition Leader Matthew Guy 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.

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

Now the Herald Sun can reveal the government has been ordered to publicly release agendas and meeting minutes from the Suburban Rail Loop Authority.

Premier Daniel Andrews is refusing to say how much the government believes the rail loop will cost. Picture: David Crosling

In a decision that could force the release of confidential meetings, Victoria’s chief information officer has ordered the release of 70 pages of material about the project.

The government has refused to release the material 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 Jennifer Kummrow said it would be in the public interest to release the material in full.

“For the most part, the documents refer to issues as being ‘noted’ and do not disclose detailed deliberations or debate,” she said in a decision handed down last week.

The parliament’s budget watchdog has warned the Suburban Rail Loop could cost taxpayers more than $125bn.

“In my view the public interest weighs in favour of disclosure of the documents to allow for greater transparency and public scrutiny of the Agency’s Advisory board, which was comprised largely of senior Agency and public sector officers, and was responsible for the governance and future development of the Agency and the SRL at the relevant time.”

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.

The rail loop has emerged as a key election issue.

It includes move to keep secret documents relating to Victoria’s various lockdowns and its controversial playground ban.

It was also caught attempting to suppress bombshell secret court rulings involving the private data of Victorians.

Shadow Treasurer, David Davis, accused the government of a cover-up.

“Victorians have a right and a need to see the SRLA Advisory Board meeting agendas and minutes,” he said.

David Davis says Victorians have a right to see the documents. Picture: Ian Currie

“Victorian were sorely misled by Daniel Andrews in 2018 and, because the government will not come clean with them about the true cost of the whole project, are still being misled.

“Daniel Andrews refuses to release the huge cost details of his train line to Victorian taxpayers and that is why he is blocking the release of the Advisory Board agendas and minutes. It is a cover up, pure and simple.”

A government spokesman said the Suburban Rail Loop Authority has noted OVIC’s ruling and was considering the decision.