Thursday, 26 May 2022

Responses

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (18:58): Thank you to the five members who raised matters for other ministers. In relation to dispatching the adjournment matter that Mr Rich-Phillips has provided to me, I will put on record that this government produces and responds to more requests and responds more adequately than the former government. This house makes orders, and we go through a proper process. He would know that the government has never voted against or opposed a documents motion. Once it is accepted it goes through to the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the process starts for assessment of those documents. If a document can be provided, it is, but of course there are appropriate protections in place for privilege for legal advice, commercial-in-confidence matters and the like, so it is important that they go through those processes. But the amount of documents that have been tabled in this chamber even this year far outstrips anything that the former coalition government were ever prepared to do. In fact, particularly through this chamber, they frankly ignored these types of requests.

On section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I will get you a more detailed response in relation to the requirements of that act, what has historically occurred and how I can respond to that in more detail. I think I will get some legal advice in relation to that, but it will be pretty quick. But I do acknowledge that the community and particularly members of Parliament and the media rely on a government that can provide timely information. It is something that we are committed to do within the proper constraints that are required to be considered by us for the benefit of Victoria.

The PRESIDENT: The house stands adjourned.

House adjourned 7.00 pm until Tuesday, 7 June.