Daniel Andrews and Gavin Jennings and transparency

State Member for Croydon, David Hodgett

Despite promises of a more open, transparent and accountable government, Daniel Andrews has shown himself to be just a garden variety hypocrite.
Before the election, Daniel Andrews on 3AW talked up his personal commitment to transparency.  According to Daniel Andrews back then: “I think more information is always better than less, more transparency’s always better than less, and under this Liberal–National Government, Brett, we’ve had enough secrecy.”
Now, there is a different Daniel Andrews.  This Daniel Andrews has failed to release the answers to over 300 Freedom of Information requests.  This Daniel Andrews won’t even release documents which are required by Parliament.
Martin Pakula is another that sermonised about transparent government.  Before the election, Pakula said: “Labor will end this secret state and open our doors to the public, because we all deserve to know the details that affect our lives.  Under Labor’s changes, no future government will ever be able to keep a crisis secret. No more hiding, no more excuses.”
On another occasion, Pakula said: “Under Labor, ministers will no longer be able to hide behind stuffy rules, waste time grandstanding or sneak through changes in the dead of night.”
This is a government of double standards and hypocrisy.
The Legislative Council has been seeking the public release of some documents for as many as 469 days.  And for 469 days the Andrews Labor Government has gone to great lengths to avoid being accountable.
Today’s motion on Gavin Jennings in the Legislative Council is about the Andrews Labor Government keeping its promise to Victorians to be transparent and accountable.

Media contact: James Duncan 0457 758 018 james.duncan@opposition.vic.gov.au