CREATING a positive freedom of information (FOI) culture in Victoria is underpinned by improved public service leadership, rather than political leadership of the agency, a new report shows.

A pilot study, commissioned by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) with support from Monash University, shows that most FOI practitioners are sincere and passionate about providing the public with access to government-held information.

However, the FOI officers’ efforts are at times hampered by executive managements at agencies that don’t regard FOI as a priority.

The study included six Victorian government agencies, ranging from small government departments and local councils, to large government departments. An initial online survey of FOI practitioners was followed by focus groups and interviews with 27 FOI officers.

The principal aim of the study was to determine if the culture of administering FOI in Victoria could be captured, and identify ways to improve FOI laws and systems to provide the community with easier access to government information.

The key finding was that FOI practitioners ranked government executives as more important than political leadership in building a positive and well-functioning FOI culture.

The pilot study was implemented and the report authored by associate professor Johan Lidberg from the School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University.

“The principal justification for governments passing and implementing laws that allow the public a means of independently accessing government information is accountability,” Associate Professor Lidberg said.

“One of the cornerstones in mature liberal democratic systems of governance is that those who wield power in society must also be held to account for how this power is executed.”

Based on the concrete recommendations in the report, the pilot study clearly demonstrated that the culture of implementing FOI can be captured.

The study also highlighted the importance of agencies adopting proactive information disclosure policies. These two findings comprise a quarter of the eight recommendations to OVIC made in the report.

“Another important takeaway from the project was the breadth of attitudes to proactive release of information held by FOI practitioners. The majority viewed proactive release as the norm, whereas others took the view that their job was to administer the FOI Act only,” Associate Professor Lidberg said.

He believes more research is needed to map the prevailing attitudes across government agencies in more detail.

“The public’s right to access information is crucial for accountability and leads to better policy outcomes,” said Victorian Information Commissioner Sven Bluemmel. “I would encourage public sector leaders to facilitate the proactive release of information where possible.”

In the next phase of the project, OVIC, and several other jurisdictions, will partner with Monash University researchers to seek funding from the Australian Research Council.

It’s proposed the next, more comprehensive, phase of the study will survey a greater number of government agencies.

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NEW HOPE Group is calling on the Premier and Minister Lynham to immediately approve New Acland Mine Stage 3 following the September 10 judgement in the Queensland Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of New Hope Group and rejected the case of the objector, Oakey Coal Action Alliance.

New Hope Group chief operating officer Andrew Boyd said there is now nothing standing in the way of the State Government awarding New Acland Mine its long overdue approvals.

“The Premier and Minister Lynham could have approved New Acland Stage 3, months ago,” Mr Boyd said.

“It’s time for them to step up and do what’s right.

“Both the Premier and Minister Lynham stated last week, they would make a decision following the Court of Appeal.

“The Court of Appeal yesterday ruled in favour of New Hope Group, paving the way for the State Government to approve New Acland Stage 3 immediately.

“It’s time for the Premier to end the uncertainty.

“The Acland project has been before the courts, four times in the past four years.

“On three occasions, multiple judges ruled in favour of New Hope Group, while the decision of the fourth (the original Land Court Member) has been found to be infected by an apprehension of bias against the company.

“No wonder the New Acland workforce and the wider Darling Downs community is confused and angry.

“The Government has run out of excuses. The Premier and Minister Lynham can end the uncertainty now and approve New Acland Stage 3 and help New Hope Group provide long term certainty to its employees, suppliers and the local community.”

THE Queensland Resources Council welcomes the expansion of Glencore’s Indigenous Employment Pathways Program in central Queensland next year with the aim of providing skills and jobs for Indigenous Australians.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector had a resolute commitment to playing its part in creating economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

“I’d like to congratulate Glencore for expanding this program and for partnering with the Indigenous-owned Diversified Building Services with a plan to provide employment opportunities for 20 Indigenous Australians. Economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians are essential to making meaningful strides towards the Closing the Gap targets and the resources sector had an important role to play,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Last year Indigenous employment grew by 11 percent in the resources sector. The resources sector is committed to doing even more to extend economic opportunities to First Nations people, and we hope to see other sectors join us with the same goal.

“The resources sector is one of only two sectors in Queensland with a genuine representation of Indigenous employees. Indigenous people comprise 4 percent of the State’s workforce in resources and Queensland’s Indigenous population is 4 percent.

“As a sector that largely operates in regional and remote communities with high Indigenous populations our sector has a unique opportunity to be a leader in Indigenous employment.”

The program begins in February 2020 and Glencore will be holding an information session tomorrow in Rockhampton and next month in Mackay.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Federal Court has handed down penalties that total $108,875 against the CFMMEU and a group of its officials, after finding they bullied and threatened a small business into signing a union deal, according to Master Builders Australia,a nd it points to the need for 'ensuring integrity' laws.

Included in this fine was a $9000 ‘personal payment order’ against one official who the Court found had a history of repeatedly breaking industrial laws. 

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “This is the second judgment handed down by a Court in less than seven days that shows how the CFMMEU treats small businesses – it’s the union way – or the highway.” 

In handing down this decision, the Court found a group of CFMEU officials approached subcontractors at the Syme Library and Community Centre in Carlton, Victoria. 

The subcontractor was told, "you work in the city so you have to have an enterprise agreement and you should sign this now". The head contractor on the site then pressured the subcontractor further, saying that if the subcontractor "did not sign the enterprise agreement with the CFMEU it would get other employees that are covered by an enterprise agreement to finish the job" and then charge the subcontractor the extra costs.

The subcontractor was ultimately kicked off the site for not signing the union deal. 

“These are clearly not isolated incidents and are not limited to just one ‘bad egg’ in the building union,” Ms Wawn said. 

 “This is yet more evidence that fines and penalties are not enough to convince building unions to change their ways or to protect the small businesses and sub-contractors in our industry. This is why we need the Parliament to pass the Ensuring Integrity laws as soon as possible,” she said. 

“Only when these laws pass might building unions see these fines as more than just ‘the cost of doing business' and be held accountable for their actions. Bullies and thugs should not be in charge of unions,” Ms Wawn said.

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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