Page 3140 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 2013
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simply referred to the Quinlan review and the modelling that was in there. Now we know from what the minister has said that he has done a variety of modelling and, indeed, he has done a variety of modelling with a number of parameters and variables in it. Well, I think it is time the public saw that modelling. It is very simple. The minister can table that here in the Assembly under standing order 213A. It is appropriate the public have that given to them. Indeed, many people think they should.
The Chief Minister, in her opening speech as Chief Minister, said she wanted a more transparent, more participative and more collaborative government. Well, here is a chance to prove it. Here is some transparency. Put the documents on the table that show you know what happens with your rates reform and what effect it will have on the citizens you seek to represent. Then we can have a collaborative debate and we can all participate fully in such debate. But without the transparency, without the documents, we cannot have that debate.
If the minister truly knew his rates would not triple, he would not hesitate to table those documents. So the only conclusion you can draw is that the rates will triple or perhaps even worse. Who knows? But the minister can finish this debate today. The minister can table all of that modelling. The minister can say, “Well, here’s the parameters that might affect this.” And the minister can say, “You’re wrong.” But he has not, and I suspect the government will vote against this motion.
So it may come down to Mr Rattenbury and how he feels about transparency. When you go to the Greens website you see the ACT Greens believe:
A healthy democracy requires frank, transparent and accountable practices in all aspects of government.
I hope what we will get when we vote on this is a vote for frank, transparent and accountable practices. Until those documents are tabled, there will be no transparency.
One of the goals of the ACT Greens is:
1. open and transparent access to government documents, including a clear presumption in favour of document disclosure as part of a robust freedom of information system.
Well, let us make this the ultimate robust freedom of information request. This is from the Assembly. So let me read that again:
The ACT Greens want:
1. open and transparent access to government documents, including a clear presumption in favour of document disclosure …
Could not agree more. Indeed, one of the undertakings in the ACT Greens-Labor agreement is to ensure accountable and transparent government that is responsive to the community. Well, a large number of people in the community have asked for access to this modelling. So let us see whether the Greens, through their agreement with the Labor Party, are willing to deliver open and accountable and transparent
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