Secrecy surrounds ‘Open Government Strategy’

Open Government Minister Clare Curran’s promise to be the most open and transparent government ever is looking increasingly ridiculous over the secrecy being applied to the Open Government Strategy, National’s State Services Spokesperson Dr Nick Smith says.

“The Minister’s refusal to release reports on the Open Government Strategy reads as though from a ‘Yes Minister’ skit. It makes a complete joke of Ms Curran’s job title as Minister of Open Government and her promise of being the most open and transparent government ever,” Dr Smith says.

The Government responded on April 19 to an Official Information Request from 20 March on all reports and briefings on the Open Government Strategy, by redacting the entire draft of the Open Government Strategy. The reason given for keeping the draft strategy secret was to protect the confidentiality of advice tended by Ministers and Officials.

“The Minister of Open Government is setting an awful example by keeping these documents secret. There is little point in an Open Government Strategy if it is not made public. This sorry saga exposes the new ministerial role for open government and the strategy as an exercise in spin.

“Ms Curran has been further embarrassed today by refusing to release a key letter written by the Radio New Zealand Chair and CEO, to the Economic Development Select Committee before their latest appearance in respect of the Hirschfeld affair - on the basis of confidentiality - when the letter had already been released by the Select Committee.

“This exposes both incompetence and the Minister responsible for open government taking a more restrictive view on disclosure than Parliament.

“The Minister should reassess this unnecessary secrecy. It should not take the involvement of the Ombudsman for the Minister of Open Government to release the Open Government Strategy.”

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