Australia Institute poll reveals 66 per cent of Tasmanians want greater transparency

Tasmanians want to know what decisions have been made, by who, and why, as a new poll shows the majority of the state supports calls to reduce secrecy and increase transparency. LATEST >>

• Tenants from hell: Inside Tassie’s house of horrors
• ‘Please pass this bill’: MPs break down in debate

THE Tasmanian public overwhelmingly supports reform to reduce secrecy and improve transparency of government.

An Australia Institute poll found that 66 per cent of those surveyed agreed that reform is needed to tackle perceived or actual corruption.

And 69 per cent of Tasmanians want the government make changes to the political donations laws a priority before the next election as a priority.

“The state government has done a good job keeping Tasmania safe during COVID but this research shows that despite the good performance, the community wants to know what decisions have been made, by who, and why,” Australia Institute, Tasmania director Leanne Minshull said.

“The window for the government to delay donations reform due to COVID priorities has closed.”

The poll showed 47.7 per cent of those surveyed would have voted Liberal if an election had been held at the time of polling, with 29.6 per cent support for Labor and 10.1 per cent support for the Greens.

Ms Minshull said it reflected an increased level of support for Labor compared for other polls.

“The poll was taken during a week of high community concern regarding government secrecy and corruption, and shows just how quickly voting intentions can shift.”

“The poll is a quick bounce back for the ALP who, in the August EMRS poll had plummeted to 24 per cent. However, Labor’s vote is still down around the same as their 2018 state election vote.”

The automated telephone poll sought the opinions of 800 Tasmanians in late November.

‘$26M COVID BUSINESS GRANT RECIPIENTS SHOULD BE REVEALED’

A Parliamentary Committee has disagreed with the government’s decision to withhold details of $26 million in grants recipients from the public.

The Standing Committee of Public Accounts is inquiring into the government’s response to the COVID pandemic.

It has handed down its special report on the government’s refusal to reveal details of the grants provided to businesses impacted by the pandemic.

When he was initially asked by the Committee about the grants, Premier Peter Gutwein initially said “I cannot see any reason why we could not provide that”.

He later advised the committee he would not.

Premier Peter Gutwein looks on as Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Mark Shelton answers a question from the Labor party during question time in State Parliament. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“It would be inappropriate to disclose specific details of funding recipients or applicants, successful or otherwise, given the nature of the grants being associated with hardship, and as such identification carries the potential to create additional hardship, whether emotional and/or financial,” he said.

The report said that grant applicants were provided with guidelines and a declaration stating their details may be publicly disclosed.

“Public disclosure of Grants recipient information is routinely a matter of public record,” the committee said.

“The Committee does not agree with the Government’s rationale for not publicly releasing the information.”

MORE NEWS:

• No clarity around who received Tasmania’s taxpayer-funded stimulus business grants
• Government hands over controversial grants winners data

Liberal members of the Committee Nic Street and John Tucker dissented.

“We do not support taking actions that will cause harm to business owners, their employees

and families,” they said

“It is very disappointing there are those who want to continue playing politics with hard

working small business owners across Tasmania, and potentially jeopardising the ongoing

viability of businesses at a time when many are very vulnerable.”

Labor leader Rebecca White said the refusal was an example of government secrecy.

“This is not government money; this is taxpayer money.

“The arguments they have made for why it should not be released are not supported with evidence.

“In fact, sitting in Estimates last week, it is clear there is no clinical advice upon which they have based their decision not to release that information; it is simply a hunch.

“That is not good enough. It is not a good enough reason to not disclose where $26 million in taxpayer money has gone.”

Why estimates week is like being lost in a blizzard

OPINION: David Killick

IF THERE ever was an indication of how well the government was expecting to perform in any given session of budget estimates hearings this week, it was the volume of press releases its media unit was churning out.

One week ago on Thursday, the government issued a solitary media advisory.

This Thursday, as five ministers fronted committees, that figure was 26.

It was quite the crescendo.

Most reporters have experienced an attempt to snow them. Few have spent four days trying to find their way through a blizzard.

MORE FROM DAVID KILLICK:

• Changes to address Tasmania’s ‘secret state’ culture
• Culture of cover-up a cancer on Tasmania’s democracy
• Revealed: How much Tassie’s political leaders are paid

It’s not like anyone was reading those missives: the pundits were glued to their live video feeds as the extraordinary week unfolded. Still, it was worth a shot.

Government media unit very busy this morning. Interesting to see so many announcements on a day when four estimates committees are also sitting. #lookoverthere #politas pic.twitter.com/gzlyv6QZIa

— David Killick (@DavidJKillick) November 26, 2020

It was a week rich in distractions from the proceedings taking place in committee rooms.

The commission of inquiry was announced on Monday morning, the State Service Review was released just after lunch.

The new coeducational schools were announced on Tuesday morning, then the long-delayed light rail suddenly appeared.

A review of the Planning Commission review dropped at 4.50pm on Wednesday, just as the relevant minster Roger Jaesnch, was wrapping up his session.

Such unlucky timing.

Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch releases the Brahminy report. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Each morning this week outside parliament, a queue of public service mandarins and ministerial advisers arrived with folders full of answers under their arms.

What treasure troves of information those contain.

As questions were rattled off inside the committees, the folders flew open, the relevant budget estimates brief pages were produced and the lever arch clips snapped shut.

The more confident ministers could rattle off and answer off the top of their head, the more nervous struggled to get through the paper that was handed to them.

When things got hot, there was always the refuge of taking a question on notice or the deflection to a department secretary or agency chief.

Parliament’s annual festival of dodging and weaving is an instructive look into the machinery of government, especially so at a time when Tasmania’s debate about transparency is in full swing.

But here’s a suggestion for 2021: Why not just hand over those briefing folders and give the press release writers the week off?

BUDGET ESTIMATES SHOW TRUE COLOURS: LABOR

PARLIAMENT’S budgetary estimates hearings have highlighted the inability of the Liberal government to give straight answers, Labor says.

Four days of parliamentary scrutiny of the government had raised more questions than were answered, claims Deputy Opposition leader Michelle O’Byrne.

“There are at best two types of ministers in this government: those who simply can’t do the job and those who choose not to do the job,” she said.

Parliament, Michelle O’Byrne MP. Picture Chris Kidd

“I think you can count on less than one hand the amount of ministers that had any detail that they could provide in that transparent process that estimates is supposed to be.

“We had some ministers who frankly couldn’t string sentences together and were clearly not across their portfolios.

“We had other ministers in particularly in relation to the northern corridor in Hobart, they’ve got $25 million for the federal government they can’t demonstrate how they’ve done any work to advance that cause.

“We had a housing minister, who couldn’t tell us how many houses were built.

“It turns out we can’t build an underground bus mall which I think everybody was expecting and really frighteningly, the government just did not seem to be able to be honest about the matters pertaining to the LGH nurse when they knew and what action they took to keep people safe.”

Sarah Courtney, in Launceston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Health Minister Sarah Courtney emphatically rejected the criticism.

“That’s just rubbish from Labor, they continue to prove that they are not fit to be able to govern Tasmania,” she said.

“We have seen a budget that has delivered $9.8 billion for health care, and indeed $45 million for additional funding for elective surgery.

“This is a very strong budget. This is a budget set in what has been an extraordinarily difficult year. We are making sure that we’re backing our community.

“We’re investing in infrastructure and importantly, we’re making sure more Tasmanians can return to work.”

Cassy O'Connor during estimates in the Long Room, Parliament. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said reluctance to answer questions as undermining democracy.

“So often evasion is the name of the game, and some Ministers really do treat it like a game,” she said.

“Some Ministers spent the Budget Estimates week smirking, spinning or turning questions around on opposition parties. That’s not how Westminster democracy works.”

And Labor’s MP Shane Broad said the government appeared to be putting in a determined effort to keep the public in the dark.

Parliament, Shane Broad MP. Picture Chris Kidd

“We see these farcical scenes where there are committees discussing issues only for the ministers to release reports to the public during those committees or indeed after those committees have finished,” Dr Broad said.

“There is absolutely no transparency and what we’re hearing and seeing time and time again is the number one priority of this government is to keep things secret, to play games, to put out reports late so that there’s no scrutiny.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett said the government was getting on with the job.

“We are busy every single week of the year, every day of the year, not just here in Parliament House but when we’re out and about meeting with our constituents and responding to our stakeholders.

“We want what’s best for Tasmania and we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that we roll out the initiatives in this budget because we know it’ll put jobs on the ground, deliver confidence in our community and support our community.”