7/28/2019 Secrecy Law Veils MP Perks

1/2

Advertisement

Print this article | Close this window

Secrecy law veils MP perksDaniel Hurst

Published: June 1, 2013 - 3:00AM

The major parties have united to increasesecrecy around the running of FederalParliament, with a new law set to preventrevelations about some perks enjoyed bypoliticians.

Three departments that oversee Parliament -

with an annual budget of $170 million - will begiven a blanket exemption from freedom-of-information laws.

The government claimed an ''anomaly'' hadbeen found last year when Fairfax Mediaobtained information about former SpeakerPeter Slipper's travel, catering and clothingpurchases.

The new law has been rushed through the House of Representatives even though theresults of an independent review on the issue is expected to be released soon, and the

departments involved admit they do not need a blanket exemption.

Despite this week's collapse of the bipartisan deal on extra public funding for politicalparties, the Coalition backed the FOI law change, which both major parties say simplyrestores the previous understanding that parliamentary departments are exempt.

But lawyer and FOI expert Peter Timmins said the move flew in the face of openness andquestioned why it was done when the review's findings were so close.

''These three agencies receive about $170 million in public money to assist in runningthe Parliament and provide services to members and senators,'' he said. ''Blanketexemptions are troubling.''

One of the bodies to be shielded from FOI requests is the Department of ParliamentaryServices. It handles research and library services, television and radio broadcasting,official transcripts, telecommunications, building maintenance and security and is thelandlord for commercial tenants in Parliament House.

The two others, the Department of the Senate and the Department of the House, provideadvisory and support services to politicians.

Fairfax Media reported last June that Mr Slipper's new coat and tails cost taxpayers$1248, while his travel bill in his first six months as Speaker was more than $18,000. Hehad also spent more than $8500 on catering. The report was based on a successful FOI

application to the Department of the House.

Print Article: Secrecy law veils MP perks http://www.smh.com.au/action/printArticle?id=...

1 of 2 06/01/2013 08:38 AM

7/28/2019 Secrecy Law Veils MP Perks

2/2

The then attorney-general, Nicola Roxon, said the release of the details was contrary tothe ''long-accepted practice'' that the parliamentary departments were exempt from FOIand commissioned Dr Allan Hawke to look into the issue by April 30.

Supporting the new law when it passed through the lower house without dissent onWednesday, Coalition MP Bronwyn Bishop said the parliamentary librarian had beenplaced in a ''very difficult position'' after a ruling that the service was covered by FOI.

But librarian Dianne Heriot said in a submission to the review that a partial exemption,rather than a blanket one, would be preferred ''in the interests of transparency andaccountability''.

The three departments also said advice should be exempt but administrative documentsshould remain accessible.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus' office declined to explain why the FOI bill was pushedthrough before the review's findings were released, saying the legal changes weredrafted by Speaker Anna Burke and Senate President John Hogg.

A spokeswoman for Dr Dreyfus confirmed Dr Hawke had completed his FOI review butwas still preparing his report.

The bill's explanatory notes say the change ''protects public order'' by guaranteeing theintegrity of departments that need to provide independent advice to MPs.

Greens leader Christine Milne said it was disappointing ''that the old parties are notcommitted to greater accountability'' and called for the Hawke report to be releasedbefore the Senate debate.

Leader of the House Anthony Albanese insisted the new law was ''an interim measure''in advance of the review's completion.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/secrecy-law-veils-

mp-perks-20130531-2nhi2.html

Print Article: Secrecy law veils MP perks http://www.smh.com.au/action/printArticle?id=...

2 of 2 06/01/2013 08:38 AM