The Victorian Opposition is continuing to pressure the state’s government over its stance on the Truck Action Plan
November 16, 2011
The Victorian Opposition is continuing to pressure the state’s government over its stance on the Truck Action Plan, pushing for responses to its freedom of information requests on the scheme.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan is seeking answers on why his three separate FOI requests made in September were not responded to within the 45-day time limit.
The Freedom of Information Act provides for a period of 45 days within which the government must advise of its decision to release documents.
“The Baillieu Government said they would be open and transparent but what we are seeing is the exact opposite,” Noonan says.
“They’ve told our community nothing about the Truck Action Plan and now they’re flouting the law by not releasing documents under freedom of information.”
Noonan has also requested the documents prepared by the Department of Transport and VicRoads relating to the projects, including ministerial briefings, memos, parliamentary questions, media releases or speaking notes.
“Given the Baillieu Government has had the Truck Action Plan under review for almost 12 months now, I’d be extremely surprised if the [Roads] Minister [Terry Mulder] hadn’t requested a ministerial briefing in that time,” Noonan says.
“Roads Minister Terry Mulder has also stated publicly that he would be talking to the Commonwealth Government about the Truck Action Plan. If that’s the case, then surely there must be some correspondence available for release under our FOI laws.”
Noonan says there is an expectation within the community the government will not press ahead with the plan, which is designed to reduce the number of trucks in Melbourne’s west.
“The previous Labor Government worked very hard to win support for the Truck Action Plan and allocated $40 million to commence the first of three stages of the truck bypass route,” he says.
“With a stroke of a pen, the Baillieu Government could remove more than one million trucks annually off local roads in the inner west by committing to the Truck Action Plan.”