The dwindling population of the Maugean Skate has become the latest victim of unnecessary government secrecy. What’s the scam?
The scam is that the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) continues to fight against transparency at huge cost to the taxpayer.
In February this year the Administrative Review Tribunal (Tribunal) handed down a decision ordering the DCCEEW to hand over a preliminary brief on the Maugean Skate.
A DCCEEW official had claimed that the document should not be released because it:
“Contain[ed] advice and recommendations to the Minister regarding requests for reconsideration that are currently being considered by the Minister. These documents contain the weighing up of options by the Minister and department that may have a bearing upon the course of action the Government takes. The reconsideration of the EPBC 2012/6406 referral decision is a current and ongoing deliberative process.”
After more than $50,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent on lawyers, these claims were rejected by the tribunal.
That’s almost a scam on its own, but it’s turning into a Groundhog Day scam.
In April, after asking DCCEEW to hand over a final decision brief on the Maugean Skate, they denied me access again, claiming the document should not be released because it:
“… contain[ed] deliberative information, advice and recommendations to the Minister regarding reconsideration of the referral decision of the marine farming expansion at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, EPBC 2012/6406 refers. The documents contain the weighing up of options by the Minister to assist with the decision making process, which is still current and subject to ongoing deliberative processes.”
Yesterday, the Information Commissioner decided to let the matter be heard in the Tribunal. With The Australia Institute lending a hand with the $1,148 application fee, I’m back in the Tribunal waiting for DCCEEW to engage taxpayer-funded lawyers, yet again, to try to defend the indefensible.
A win for transparency, a blow to secrecy, a loss for the Maugean Skate
Rex Patrick is a former Senator for South Australia and, earlier, a submariner in the armed forces. Best known as an anti-corruption and transparency crusader, Rex is also known as the "Transparency Warrior."