‘Release secret Melbourne council emails’, says Victorian watchdog

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s council ordered to release more than 700 pages of secret emails and briefings.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Victoria’s information watchdog has ordered the City of Melbourne to release more than 700 pages of polling data, emails and briefs produced by a secretive ratepayer-funded strategy program.

In a significant ruling, the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner has dismissed the council’s entire case that 101 documents should remain confidential as they relate to “potentially sensitive matters” and releasing them could trigger “spurious and captious” debate.

Acting Information Commissioner Joanne Kummrow threw out the council’s case that the documents generated by almost two years research by the RedBridge Group — one of Victoria’s most influential political lobbying firms — should be exempt from release to The Australian under Freedom of Information laws.

“I agree that some of the information informs sensitive public policy,” Ms Kummrow stated in her finding.

“However, in my view, this factor weighs in favour of disclosure where it can demonstrate the integrity of the data and the Agency’s (council) analysis of that data. Rather, disclosure can build public trust through transparency of the Agency’s consultative and decision making processes.”

Ms Kummrow dismissed City of Melbourne claims that releasing the RedBridge documents could spark “spurious” debate. “I do not accept disclosure of the surveys and their results would lead to unnecessary speculation or ill-informed debate about the Agency’s final decision, including the reasons why it did or did not decide to take a particular course of action,” she found.

“I do not accept disclosure of email correspondence relating to the preparation of the

surveys would cause confusion or uncertainty, as draft versions of the surveys and

results are clearly distinguishable from final versions.

“The disclosure of draft documents can provide transparency about how a government agency carries out and fulfils its statutory and public functions. I also do not consider disclosure of the documents would have an adverse effect on the integrity, effectiveness or validity of similar future surveys.

“I do not accept the Agency’s submission that disclosure would undermine the

independence of that process and inhibit the ability of the Council to make decisions in

a way that balances the views and interests of all affected participants and

stakeholders.”

Kos Samaras is a former Labor Party strategist who now fronts influential lobbying firm Redbridge. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

RedBridge, owned and operated by former Victorian ALP election campaign strategist Kos Samaras, was paid $77,000 by the council to conduct research for Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s council on issues including pandemic recovery, bike paths, parking and community infrastructure.

In a last-ditch attempt to prevent the documents being released to The Australian, the City of Melbourne has launched an appeal in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to overturn the acting commissioner’s ruling.

The year-long tussle over the documents will now play out during a council election year, as Ms Capp attempts to secure a third-term in office at the October election.

Ms Capp declined to comment on the watchdog’s ruling. “It wouldn’t be appropriate

at this time,” a council spokesperson said. RedBridge will not join the council in fighting the release of the documents, with the firm confirming it has “reviewed the (Information) Commissioner’s advice and won’t be appealing”.

Among the key RedBridge documents the acting information commissioner ordered the council to hand over to The Australian are a 47-page email and attachment dated October 2021, a 17-page email and attachment dated November 2021, a 53-page email and attachment dated November 2021 and a 32-page email and attachment dated December 2021.

There was also a flurry of 19 emails and attachments sent by RedBridge to the council in March 2022. And in April, the council received a 51-page email and attachment.

When The Australian revealed last June that RedBridge had been paid by the council to run a strategy program, some councillors expressed concern, saying they had been unaware of the confidential work.

RedBridge — a registered political lobbyist with a client list of more than 50 businesses including commercial property firms and developers — boasts about its ability to wield ‘‘influence with integrity’’ and help clients ‘‘manage political risks through research-led communication and advocacy’’.

RedBridge’s listed clients on Victoria’s Lobbyists Register have included the Bruce Mathieson Group, Villawood Properties, Intrapac Property, MAB Corporation, Oliver Hume Property Funds and the Stamoulis Property Group.