By Vanessa Chircop
PLANNING Minister Matthew Guy is still yet to announce his Department’s decision regarding the Newport Woollen Mill’s site, angering residents, councillors and some politicians.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland said a failure by the State Government to release the report into the site is avoiding scrutiny and creating uncertainty.
“My Freedom of Information request is now a whole month overdue,” Ms Hartland said.
“It appears that the Baillieu Government is either unable to meet their obligations or they are hiding something.
“When they were in opposition, the current government said they would be transparent, and that too many planning decisions were being taken away from local council.
“Now we are in the same position.”
Ms Hartland said she has pursued the report of the Port Phillip Woollen Mill Advisory Committee so the community knows what information the Planning Minister is using to make a decision.
“It shouldn’t be his decision, it should be the council’s, but it should at least be transparent,” she said.
“My office has called the Planning Department three times and the request is now a month overdue.”
A spokesperson for Mr Guy would not say why Ms Hartland’s FOI request had not been responded to but said the matter was “currently under consideration” and a decision about the site is expected “in the near future”.
Ms Hartland’s request isn’t the only FOI raising eyebrows.
Member for Williamstown Wade Noonan MP said the State Government’s pledge to be open and transparent was being tested by their failure to respond to three of his FOI requests.
Mr Noonan made the three separate FOI applications relating to both the Truck Action Plan and WestLink in late September.
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 provides for a period of 45 days within which the Government must advise of their decision to release documents.
“They’ve told our community nothing about the Truck Action Plan and now they’re flouting the law by not releasing documents under freedom of information,” he said.
