Leah Blyth (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The essence of democracy is transparency. Freedom of information laws are not an inconvenience for governments; they are the lifeblood of accountability. Yet this federal Labor government, the least transparent since Keating, is now planning to restrict freedom of information requests. The very tool that allows citizens, journalists and parliamentarians to scrutinise decisions and spending is being weakened by those who most fear its light. A government that says 'Trust us' is a government that deserves the least trust of all. No government should ever ask the people to hand over blind faith.

History shows that secrecy is the companion of mismanagement, waste and, too often, corruption. And the parallels here are striking. In Victoria, under Daniel Andrews, the Labor Party perfected the art of secrecy—documents withheld, decisions made behind closed doors, accountability treated as optional. The culture of secrecy left Victorians in the dark and undermined public trust. Now, Prime Minister Albanese and his federal Labor Party are following the same path.

This is not the Australia that our democracy was built on. Australians deserve a government that is open to scrutiny, not one that hides behind locked cabinets and closed doors. Transparency does not weaken governments; it strengthens them by ensuring that decisions can withstand public inspection. If Labor believes its decisions are sound, then it should welcome scrutiny, not fear it. Freedom of information is freedom itself, and this parliament must defend it.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. I'll just remind you to use the former premiers' correct title in the future.