Council’s draft access to information policy red herring

Critics have slammed Council’s new draft Access to Information Policy labelling it misleading and divisive.

Local heritage society president, Andrew Woodhouse said the policy was not properly displayed and included hidden clauses and costs.

“Sydney Council’s draft Access to Information Policy hides almost as much information as it allows access to,” he said.

The background paper to the policy went before the Council’s Corporate, Finance, Properties and Tenders Committee last year and was considered by councillors before being publicly exhibited.

The policy was considered by council’s committee on 8th November, 2010 and then by full council on 15th November, where it was decided to publicly exhibit it for 28 days.

Mr Woodhouse said the policy was not adequately displayed to the public during this period.

“It was not available at our local library or one-stop-shop when I called in just before Christmas,” he said.

“And is not listed on council’s website as a proposed policy or one which has been publicly exhibited.

“It seems very odd indeed that a proposed policy promoting openness and access to government decision-making was not publicly exhibited when council decided to do just that.

The proposal will return to council for a final decision and will be considered by committee on February 7.

Mr Woodhouse also claimed the proposals within the policy were not explained fully and saw an increase in costs.

“This proposed policy does not list what the ‘process charges’ are for filing applications and has excessive costs for information we already have a right to see,” he said.

“A council with nothing to fear has nothing to hide.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore has previously spoken about the need to improve what she labelled “NSW’s poor record on public access to information” after an Ombudsman’s Freedom of Information (FOI) review uncovered what she called “a culture of secrecy in the NSW public service, supported by a lack of political will for change.”