Several Tasmanian government‑owned businesses have openly defied a request from both the premier and parliament to publish disclosure logs of right‑to‑information (RTI) documents a move that has triggered a sharp warning from the state government and the prospect of new legislation to force compliance.
In March, parliament backed a motion calling on state‑owned entities, including TT‑Line and Tasracing, to create public disclosure logs. Such logs allow any member of the public to view and download documents released under RTI laws, rather than limiting access to the original applicant. Hydro Tasmania already maintains such a log, offering a model of the transparency parliament sought to extend across all government businesses.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff followed up in mid‑April with a formal letter to Government Business Enterprises (GBEs) and State‑Owned Companies (SOCs), reminding them of their obligations and directing them to publish RTI disclosures on their websites within 48 hours of release. But despite the clear directive, compliance has been patchy.
Responding to a question from the Greens, Leader of Government Business Eric Abetz told parliament yesterday that not all agencies had met the requirement a revelation that has intensified scrutiny of transparency practices within the state’s publicly owned corporations. The government is now signalling it may introduce legislation to compel the businesses to comply if they continue to resist voluntary disclosure.
The standoff highlights a growing tension between Tasmania’s push for greater openness and the reluctance of some government‑owned entities to embrace public transparency. With pressure mounting from parliament, the Greens and the broader community, the issue is poised to become a defining test of the state’s commitment to accountability.
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