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Category: Rail Transport

Dean Nalder wrong to withhold MAX documents, says auditor-general

Wednesday, 23 Nov 2016 16:41:50 | Jacob Kagi

The report found Dean Nalder was wrong not to release the MAX documents. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

An report by the auditor-general has found WA's former transport minister ignored the advice of his own department about whether to release documents relating to the scrapped MAX Light Rail project.

Auditor-general Colin Murphy found the decision not to provide the documents was not reasonable or appropriate, as the findings sparked renewed criticism from Labor that the Government had been excessively secretive.

The report related to a request from State Parliament's estimates committee to provide a pair of documents about a company contracted to review the MAX project.

According to Mr Murphy's report, the Department of Transport recommended the documents be provided and drafted a response for then minister Dean Nalder.

But Mr Nalder did not follow the advice, instead telling the committee the information could not be provided for cabinet confidentiality reasons.

Mr Murphy's report found all of the information was already publicly available anyway.

"In my opinion the decision is not reasonable and therefore not appropriate," Mr Murphy said.

Labor's transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti urged the new minister to provide the documents, saying the previous decision raised serious questions about the Government's transparency.

"It's quite a damning report about the level of secrecy in the Barnett Government," Ms Saffioti said.

"This isn't the first time ministers have been caught out about not providing information."

The current Transport Minister Bill Marmion has been contacted for comment.

AustraliaPlus


 

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