Mood:
a-okTopic: legal
Building on a 702 abc story today about access to local government files, Waverley Local Government Area does set the standard with an "open file" policy. We can confirm our recollection of that from time as a councillor Bondi ward 1995-99. And we think Waverley can be duly proud of that culture. As the planning duty officer told us: "Isn't that how it's done everywhere?". Sadly no.
We will add alot more about the interesting history later. We are advised by the planning desk at Waverley the logistics now are a $75 processing fee and 2 week turn around from storage. Previously up to 1999 the files were kept in the same building (which has moved from Bondi Rd to Spring St in Bondi Junction) and staff would literally walk out and grab the file and bring it to the counter, no fee by the sound of it.
Query how this measures up with cost of a formal Freedom of Information request under that legislation.
Other councils are much less transparent and quite probably not as honest e.g. Hornsby.
............
The history of the open file policy relates to what Barbara Armitage (Waverley ALP Mayor till 1997 or so) used to refer to as the vanquishing of the "forces of darkness". Too true.
What she was referring to was a regime of gung ho developers under the stewardship of the Markhams as Mayor, a husband and wife team apparenty, which culminated in chief planner Don Stait having an adverse legal finding against him for corrupt behaviour. We recall one story told by Cr Norman Lee (RIP, father of Ben Lee, pop singer) that he had a muscle bound security guard in the public gallery for his own protection as the heat on the corrupt forces escalated in council meetings, Lee having been a strong ally of reformer Barbara Armitage.
The ALP thus removed control of the council from the Liberal Party ever since.
We have no doubt an open file policy subject say to narrow concerns of privacy, safety, and other common sense is closely aligned to honesty. That's why we feel quite nervous about other Local Govt areas with a default position of no access unless forced by say by FoI legal pressure.
