Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen today learnt in Parliament that possibly for the first time ever, the umpire’s report on the secrecy of the details of government funding for Boral, would itself remain ‘secret’.
“On the 18th October, 2006, the government allowed my ‘call for papers’ on the detail of at least $22 million dollars worth of government funding for Boral, under the Forest Industry Structural Adjustment Program.
“Having allowed my ‘call for papers’, the government, via the Department of Primary Industries eventually released some documents, but with relevant information withheld under privilege.
“I then challenged the government’s decision to withhold information, on the grounds of public interest.
“The papers and the DPI’s decision were referred to Sir Laurence Street for independent arbitration.
“Sir Laurence then made a judgement on the matter, which the Parliament received approximately three weeks ago, but now the government has joined with the opposition to deny the release to the public of not only information on the deal with Boral, but the independent arbiter’s report as well.
“So here we have the extraordinary situation where the public’s money has been spent funding Boral’s business. Then more public money has been spent on a judgement on whether or not the same public have a right to information about the deal they funded. But then they’re not allowed to see that report either.
“If the government won’t release the information on the Boral deal, I think it is entirely reasonable to request that the judgement at least be made public.
“I believe that this could be the first time that a report of this nature, by such an eminent figure as Sir Laurence Street, has been denied to the public, on whose behalf it was commissioned,” said Mr Cohen today.
Further Information: Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466
Nic Clyde: 0417 742 754
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