VEIL OF ACT LABOR SECRECY COMING DOWN

Leanne Castley MLA

Leader of the ACT Liberals

Media Release

15 May 2025

In a win for greater government transparency, the Independent Legal Arbiter The Hon Keith Mason AC KC has ruled that the ACT Government cannot prevent a number of important documents from being made public.

Under and Order for the Production of Documents motion, the Canberra Liberals sought information relating to health expenditure and for light rail costs.

The ACT Labor government lodged a claim of privilege to prevent the documents from being made public but had this move refuted by the Independent Legal Arbiter.

This only occurred after the Opposition Leader directly challenged to move to keep the documents secret,  asking the Independent Legal Arbiter to make a ruling.

ACT Liberal Opposition Leader Leanne Castley MLA said this was a win for the ACT community and greater government transparency.

“For over twenty years, ACT Labor have ignored, declined, and generally dismissed demands for greater transparency over their decision making,” Ms Castley said.

“Now, with a minority government, the power of the elected Legislative Assembly has the power to force the government to hand overimportant documents for public scrutiny.

“For example, for too long Canberrans have had little or no detail about the costs and processes around the light rail construction costs.  These documents now shed a light on just how much it will cost ACT taxpayers.

“It’s also telling that the Chief Minister himself sought the claims of privilege over the documents and the decision by the Independent Legal Arbiter to allow the documents becoming public must be humiliating for him.

“Ultimately, the entire ACT community is the better for having greater transparency over the government.”

ENDS

*The decision by the Independent Legal Arbiter is available here:  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8es2kkmjj6qz0uco1xh8s/scan_tom-duncan_2025-05-15-12-27-37.pdf?rlkey=to85nnxxty7h5qgrbai11vsrp&st=6awiz2ef&dl=0