ACT Greens MLA for Brindabella Amanda Bresnan has pointed to a new rival data centre proposal featured in the Canberra Times today as a positive sign that Canberra can be home to new green industries.

“The proponents of this new proposal are talking about solar energy, rather than gas” Ms Bresnan said today.

“And they appear keen to make sure that community consultation of proposed sites is properly handled.”

“Our position all along has been that linking data centres with renewable energies is a good way forward for the ACT. All we need in addition are rigorous site selection and environmental assessment processes.”

“It is still our view that the ACT Government should urgently identify alternate sites for the controversial Mugga Lane data centre, which has rasied so many concerns with nearby residents.”
 
“However, I think today’s news should go some way towards reassuring Canberrans that with good processes in place we won’t have trouble attracting businesses here” Ms Bresnan said.

The Greens will establish an Information Commissioner to apply a test as to when it is in the public interest or not to release a document to the public, Amanda Bresnan, ACT Greens candidate for Brindabella announced today.

“The recent report by the ACT Auditor General has made it very clear that ACT FOI officers, if they are not responding to political pressure, are, very inconsistent in the procedures, and fail to make their case when it comes to deciding not to release documents” Ms Bresnan said today.

“A 2006 report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman recommended that agency heads issue a clear statement to staff expressing a commitment to sound FOI practice and the goals of the FOI Act”.

“At present, there is no single or authoritative source of advocacy for good FOI practice”.

“There is now consensus amongst the ALRC, ARC, Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee that many of the shortcomings in the current operation and effectiveness of the FOI Act could be addressed with the establishment of a constant, independent monitor”.

“It seems clear, as the Auditor General makes very clear, that the ACT public service is similarly challenged when it comes to upholding the principles of Freedom of Information”.

“Under the current ACT Labor Government FOI has been made even more restrictive with conclusive certificates being able to be issued by the Minister. The Greens opposed this very strongly”.

Along with establishing an Information Commissioner the Greens will:

· review guidelines for the classification of cabinet-in-confidence documents

· require reasons behind cabinet decisions to be provided

· increase parliamentary powers to obtain documents from the executive government

· amend the ACT Freedom of Information Act to restore and bolster the objective of requiring information release

“We only need to look at the reams of blacked out documents relating to the choice of site for the gas powered data centre to see that the principles of FOI are not being upheld”, Ms Bresnan