RTIs of Interest and discussions on RTI

[ozbob]

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Right-to-Information/Disclosure-log

[ozbob]

7 February 2017      135/04776

Rail passenger and related data (PDF, 40 KB) for the CityTrain Network for the AM peak hour (7:30 to 8:29) and AM Peak 2 Hour (07:30 to 09:29) data on passenger volumes (XLSX, 69 KB) / flows and train services, separately for inbound and outbound volumes / flows and services, specifically rail patronage by:

    Line (Beenleigh, Caboolture, Cleveland, Doomben, Ferny Grove, Gold Coast, Ipswich/Rosewood, Richards/Springfield, Nambour, Shorncliffe – excluding Gold Coast)
    CBD cordon
    Line groups (e.g. Gold Coast / Beenleigh; Rosewood/Ipswich/Richlands/Springfield Central; Nambour/Caboolture)
    Constraint point – the Merivale Bridge
    Services operated
    Design capacity (i.e. train carrying capacity in the AM peak and AM 2 hour peak)


Timeframe: 2000 to 2016

[ozbob]

15 February 2017     135/04793    

Correspondence between Queensland Rail CEO Helen Gluer and Director-General Neil Scales (PDF, 5.6 MB) regarding the New Generation Rollingstock Project from 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2016.

[ozbob]

22 February 2017     135/04812

Documents relating to negotiations (PDF, 2.25 MB) on the 2016 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement for Queensland Rail train crew. This should include, but not be limited to:

    emails between the (previous) Minister's office and representatives of the RBTU & AFULE
    emails between the (previous) Minister's office and QR relating to the negotiations
    ministerial directives issued to QR - briefing papers on the negotiations
    documents containing the words "comfort break/s", "continuous work breaks"
    documents naming or correspondence from/to QR Chief Operations Officer Kevin Wright.

Timeframe: 1 November 2016 - 28 December 2016.

[ozbob]

7 March 2017    135/04837

Documents, including reports, executive briefings and attachments (PDF, 21 KB), relating to decision and/or advice against the introduction of super buses.
Timeframe: 1 January 2010 - 7 March 2017.

[ozbob]

2 May 2017    135/04925

Reports, ministerial briefings and attachments and executive briefings and attachments, photos and CCTV (PDF, 356 KB), relating to faults/problems/failures with the Go Card system since 1 January 2015.

[ozbob]

2 May 2017     135/04926

The MR Cagney Report on Superbuses (PDF, 46.73 MB) (including any drafts, amendments, internal correspondence on the report) referred to in documents released by TMR under the Act, file number 135/04837. In relation to internal correspondence, please limit to executive level, and only correspondence about the report's findings.

[ozbob]

31 May 2016    135/04215-MIN

Any documents (PDF, 5.06 MB), including but not limited to briefing notes, presentations, emails, progress reports, meeting minutes, diary entries and internal memos about the progress of the Moreton Bay Rail Link project. Time period / date range for request: January 2016 to 30 May 2016. (This application was made to the Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games). (This application was made to the Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games)

[ozbob]

31 May 2016    135/04217

Documents, specifically ministerial briefing notes and attachments, reports, correspondence and related CCTV/photos, regarding the postponement of the Moreton Bay Rail Link (PDF, 589 KB), since July 1, 2015.

[ozbob]

1 August 2016  135/04361

A copy of the reports of MR Cagney Pty Ltd (PDF, 2.68 MB) – Conduct & study of public transport infrastructure in shopping centres throughout Queensland and Arena Organisational Pty Ltd – External independent evaluation of TMR organisational position and their delivery.

[ozbob]

24 October 2016    135/04545

All documents to and from Queensland Rail (PDF, 7.6 MB), relating to:
1. QR Train driver shortages/training
2. Cancellation of Citytrain services
3. QR Citytrain service capacity
Between 1 July, 2015 to 24 October 2016.

[ozbob]

25 October 2016    135/04553    

Briefing notes and memos to the Minister (PDF, 84.51 MB) regarding:
a) the recruitment of additional train drivers and guards (including for MBRL, NGR)
b) the extra services for the Redcliffe Peninsula Line (formerly the Moreton Bay Rail Link).

[ozbob]

1 November 2016    135/04569    

Departmental and Ministerial Briefing Notes and attachments, reports, emails and internal correspondence (PDF, 547 KB) to and from Queensland Rail, relating to:
1. New Generation Rollingstock (NGR);
2. QR driver recruitment.
Timeframe: 01/01/2015 to 01/11/2016.

[ozbob]

4 November 2016    135/04581    

Briefing notes, correspondence and emails to and from TMR Director-General Neil Scales about any operational issues/planning for Queensland Rail (PDF, 7.43 MB), including any emails or briefing notes that mention – train crew, train drivers, drivers, guards, tutor drivers, rostering. February 2015 - October 2016.

[ozbob]

10 November 2016    135/04596-MIN    

All documents (PDF, 3.64 MB) related to internal hiring practices/rules for Queensland Rail train drivers and guards including emails and correspondence between the Minister's office and Queensland Rail related to the 2016 in-principle enterprise agreement train crew. Please include any documents on an amendment to the 2016 agreement regarding internal hiring of drivers.
(This application was made to the Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games)

[ozbob]

12 November 2015    135/03794

With regards to the preliminary North Coast Line (NCL) Action Plan and related 10-year program referenced on page 25 of the Draft State Infrastructure Plan Part B:
(a) latest full copy of the preliminary plan and program
(b) briefing notes, memos, emails and correspondence sent to and received from the Minister's office by the department in regards to the development of this plan and its inclusion in the draft State Infrastructure Plan.
Time period / date range for request: 14 February 2015 - 11 November 2015.
Full version (PDF, 10.61 MB) | Part 1 (PDF, 3.79 MB) | Part 2 (PDF, 4.61 MB) | Part 3 (PDF, 2.61 MB)

[#Metro]

^^ Is there the actual new EBA in there somewhere?

[ozbob]

^^ Is there the actual new EBA in there somewhere?

Not that I have found yet.  There was a couple of RTI requests that were either refused or withdrawn that related to so matters.  It is not a completely transparent process the RTI system.  Responses are often heavily redacted too.   It is all we have got in this ' open and transparent ' State of Qld.



If you have time have a look at Documents tabled at the Fair Work Commission Qld, it might be there believe it or not.

[ozbob]

5 February 2018 135/05520-MIN

Documents relating to discussions around Andy Byford and the vacant chief executive officer position at Queensland Rail when Jackie Trad was Transport Minister. Documents should include emails to and from the Minister's office mentioning the name Andy Byford and mentions of Andy Byford in the Minister's diary, including a meeting on 10 February 2017, described publicly as a meeting with the "candidate for CEO QR". Time frame for request:: 1 January 2017 - 8 March 2017. (This application was made to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads)     Currently being processed

===========================

Interesting.  I had heard that Andy Byford was the preferred candidate for CEQ QR but due to leaking early declined.

[ozbob]

5 February 2018     135/05521-MIN     

Email correspondence within the former Transport Minister Jackie Trad's office relating to Downer EDI/Downer and its potential involvement in the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) project. Time frame for request: 1 September 2017 - 9 November 2017. (This application was made to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads)     Currently being processed.

[ozbob]

15 March 2018     135/05623     

Summary documents regarding a) the cost of replacing trains with buses over the last calendar year or last financial year (depending on how information is collected) and b) a basic summary about the main reasons why buses were needed to replace trains.
Time period / date range for request: 2017 calendar year.     Currently being processed

[ozbob]

10 April 2018    135/05684    

Summary documents regarding:

    the cost of replacing trains with buses over the last calendar year or last financial year (depending on how information is collected) and
    a basic summary about the main reasons why buses were needed to replace trains.

Time period / date range for request: 01/07/2016  to 30/06/2017 and 01/07/2017 to current.

[#Metro]

Not that I have found yet.  There was a couple of RTI requests that were either refused or withdrawn that related to so matters.  It is not a completely transparent process the RTI system.  Responses are often heavily redacted too.   It is all we have got in this ' open and transparent ' State of Qld.


If you have time have a look at Documents tabled at the Fair Work Commission Qld, it might be there believe it or not.

I can't imagine any grounds for such refusal as previous ones were openly published on the internet, so what changed??

See - http://www.qirc.qld.gov.au/agreement_award/agreement_qld_rail.htm

[ozbob]

One of the reasons I am familiarising myself with the RTI disclosure logs as I am attempting to come to terms as to how to frame the requests, should I need to do that in 22 days or so  .  I think if  the request is too broad and overlaps with Cabinet confidentiality etc. then could be refused.  There are lot of requests in process for Minister Bailey email correspondence in the 2018 log.  Good luck with that whomever has requested it ...

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

3 April 2013    135/01772    

All correspondence between the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Director–General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Translink, Brisbane Transport, Brisbane City Council and the Lord Mayor's Office relating to the recent bus review—correspondence documents (PDF, 2.64 MB)

[ozbob]

Hey troops QR has at long last updated their RTI Disclosure logs

https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/aboutus/rti/disclosurelog

[ozbob]

Have submitted a RTI application (  below  ) today to DTMR - TransLink for patronage figures.

Annual patronage statistics for each financial year from 2010/2011 to 2016/2017 inclusive for each of the following Queensland Government subsidised services:

- All TransLink urban bus, tram and ferry services in South-East Queensland including all TransLink school services, on a route by route basis, and including all services on which go cards are accepted for payment regardless of subsidisation arrangements (with the relevant operator identified).

- All urban bus services in regional Queensland (comprising Airlie Beach and Proserpine, Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Gympie, Hervey Bay and Maryborough, Innisfail, Kilcoy-Caboolture, Mackay, Magnetic Island, North Stradbroke Island, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Toowoomba, Townsville and Warwick), including State funded school services provided by the urban bus operators for these areas, on a route by route basis (with the relevant operator identified).

- Queenland Rail City Network by station entrances and on a line by line basis.

- Queensland Rail Travel Network by station entrances and broken down between routes.

- All subsidised regional long distance air and coach services (with the relevant operator identified).

School bus service information may be aggregated on the basis of a total figure for all services provided by a single contractor.

[ozbob]

Have submitted a RTI application (  below  ) today to DTMR - TransLink for patronage figures.

Annual patronage statistics for each financial year from 2010/2011 to 2016/2017 inclusive for each of the following Queensland Government subsidised services:

- All TransLink urban bus, tram and ferry services in South-East Queensland including all TransLink school services, on a route by route basis, and including all services on which go cards are accepted for payment regardless of subsidisation arrangements (with the relevant operator identified).

- All urban bus services in regional Queensland (comprising Airlie Beach and Proserpine, Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Gympie, Hervey Bay and Maryborough, Innisfail, Kilcoy-Caboolture, Mackay, Magnetic Island, North Stradbroke Island, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Toowoomba, Townsville and Warwick), including State funded school services provided by the urban bus operators for these areas, on a route by route basis (with the relevant operator identified).

- Queenland Rail City Network by station entrances and on a line by line basis.

- Queensland Rail Travel Network by station entrances and broken down between routes.

- All subsidised regional long distance air and coach services (with the relevant operator identified).

School bus service information may be aggregated on the basis of a total figure for all services provided by a single contractor.

Advice has been received that this RTI application is considered to voluminous due the lack of electronic records prior to FY 2012/13, and difficulty in generating line data for Queensland Rail Citytrain.  Accordingly application has been revised to:

"Annual patronage statistics (in the form of Excel spreadsheets) for each financial
year from 2012/2013 to 2016/2017 inclusive for each of the following Queensland
Government subsidised services:
- All TransLink urban bus, tram and ferry services in South-East Queensland
including all TransLink school services, on a route by route basis, and including all
services on which go cards are accepted for payment regardless of subsidisation
arrangements (with the relevant operator identified).
- All urban bus services in regional Queensland (comprising Airlie Beach and
Proserpine, Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Gympie, Hervey Bay and
Maryborough, Innisfail, Kilcoy-Caboolture, Mackay, Magnetic Island, North
Stradbroke Island, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Toowoomba,
Townsville and Warwick), including State funded school services provided by the
urban bus operators for these areas, on a route by route basis (with the relevant
operator identified).
- Queensland Rail City Network by station entrances.
- Queensland Rail Travel Network by station entrances and broken down between
routes.
School bus service information may be aggregated on the basis of a total figure for
all services provided by a single contractor."

[ozbob]

^ patronage data now available.  See >> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13264.0

[ozbob]

Right to Information Day

Right to Know Day is celebrated annually across Australia and around the world on 28 September. In Queensland we mark Right to Know Day as Right to Information Day (RTID) to acknowledge the contribution of the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act) to facilitating greater and easier access to government-held information.

As part of RTID celebrations on 24-28 September 2018, Information Commissioner Rachael Rangihaeata is available for interview to discuss information access rights and responsibilities in Queensland.

This year's theme is 'Trust and Transparency' as OIC focuses on moving from adopting the principles of the RTI Act to embedding a deeper culture of openness and transparency within the public sector. This contributes to building greater trust in the services we provide to the community.

The Office of the Information Commissioner, Queensland (OIC) encourages all government agencies to conduct their activities with openness, transparency and accountability, as they are the key foundations of good governance, and the benefits of community trust and engagement are indisputable.

RTID is an opportunity to remind Queenslanders about their right to access government-held information, as well as the government's responsibility to release information informally and formally.

The RTI Act applies to Queensland state Government departments and Ministers, local councils, public universities, statutory authorities, government-owned corporations and other public authorities.

For more on information visit https://www.oic.qld.gov.au/rtiday2018

[Whippa]

Not an RTI but I've noticed some people have been interested in the train crew EBA. You can access it here:
https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/agreements/fwa/ae423824.pdf

[ozbob]

OIC  24 September 2018

MEDIA RELEASE: Trust, transparency and right to information: Accountability in an age of democratic disquiet

A culture of secrecy and a desire for non-disclosure are still commonplace across many areas of politics and the bureaucracy, according to Professor Ken Smith, Dean and Chief Executive of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government.

Professor Smith made this claim during his delivery of this year's Right to Information (RTI) Day Solomon Lecture, titled Trust, transparency and right to information: accountability in an age of democratic disquiet.

"Work that makes government more transparent or improves integrity must be seen as essential for rebuilding the trust that makes it possible for governments to operate effectively and work for the public good."

In the lecture, Professor Smith also advocated for the need to return to the basics of our fundamental purpose of ensuring public trust, and the need to always operate in the public interest rather than serve narrower sectional interests.

Professor Smith said, "We need to understand our relative position as public officers within the community as elites and ensure that government is not perceived as being of the elites, by the elites, and for the elites."

"The Right to Information reforms and their implementation are so important to reversing the massive declines in trust. We must do our utmost to ensure engaged, participatory and deliberative democracy."

"Focusing on transparency in the way we go about our business and continuing to open up government, and of course access to the information which supports our evidentiary basis for decision making—will bring huge benefits to the community and importantly build rather than continue to erode trust in our democratic institutions," Professor Smith said.

Queensland's Information Commissioner, Ms Rachael Rangihaeata, said, "RTI Day celebrations and the Solomon Lecture are a timely reminder that building community trust through more open, transparent and accountable government requires strong leadership and continual work by all levels of the public service."

"We must be proactive and vigilant in ensuring a right to access government-held information, and Queensland government agencies have a responsibility to release information unless it is contrary to the public interest to do so," Ms Rangihaeata said.

A copy of Professor Smith's speech and recording of the 2018 Solomon Lecture are available at https://www.oic.qld.gov.au/rtiday2018

The Solomon Lecture was hosted by the Office of the Information Commissioner in partnership with the Queensland Public Service Commission.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/seanparnell/status/1045483018696048640

[ozbob]

7 News put in a RTI in January 2019

RTI-128  https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Right-to-Information/Disclosure-log.aspx

Documents since 1 February 2018 (PDF, 2.3 MB), specifically reports, meeting minutes and executive/ministerial briefings, internal correspondence (please limit searches for internal correspondence from only the Director-General/Acting Director-General) relating to Right to Information applications.

Interesting reading.  We are mentioned pages 57-76, 101-113, 130, and 158-167.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1136346884891586561

[ozbob]

Office of the Information Commissioner

https://www.oic.qld.gov.au/about/news/audit-report-disclosure-logs-queensland-government-departments

Audit report – Disclosure logs - Queensland Government departments

On 11 August 2020, the Chair of the Legal Affairs and Community Safety parliamentary committee tabled our report on how well Queensland Government departments meet the requirements for operating a disclosure log set out in the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld).

Disclosure logs are part of a website that captures documents government agencies have released under the Act. Disclosure logs enhance openness and transparency, and reduce costs for the community and agencies. We concluded that departments maintain mostly compliant disclosure logs but there are gaps. The logs are not always current or complete. While it is generally easy to find the departments' disclosure logs on their websites, not all disclosure logs are easy to read or use.

The report makes recommendations to all agencies.

Read the key findings and access the report here.

[ozbob]

^

Couriermail --> Labor slammed for 'major failures' with RTI documents

Despite Annastacia Palaszczuk pledging her Government would be open and accountable, a damning report has been released regarding online RTI disclosure logs. The LNP said it spoke "volumes to the cover-up culture ... fostered under the Palaszczuk Labor Government". But Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath has hit back.

The Palaszczuk Government is taking up to six months to publish critical right-to-information documents, with a damning report finding the practice could be more transparent.

Despite Annastacia Palaszczuk pledging her Government would be open and accountable, the Office of the Information Commissioner found there were gaps in the Government's online RTI disclosure logs.

The report found not all logs were easy to read or use, which could affect the "community's confidence in government agencies because they are not as transparent and open as they could be".

The Commissioner made several recommendations, including making the logs more "useful".

The LNP slammed the revelations, with Attorney-General spokesman David Janetzki claiming the "damning report" had shone a massive spotlight on the "lack of transparency" within the Government, and that it spoke "volumes to the cover-up culture that has been fostered under the Palaszczuk Labor Government".

"Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to take responsibility for these major transparency failures and explain how it will be fixed," he said.

But Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said the LNP's claims were a bit rich after the party was forced to rule out abolishing the RTI Act altogether when it was in government.

"The LNP wanted to wipe the RTI Act from Queensland's statute books but had to back-pedal amid a public outcry," she said.

Ms D'Ath acknowledged there was room for improvement.

The Office of the Information Commissioner, which compared online logs between December 2019 and July 2020, found 81 per cent of department disclosure logs were easy to find.

It found the average time it took to publish information once an applicant accessed it was 50.3 days, with a "small" number of departments taking more than six months.

The RTI Act does not specify an exact time frame for when documents should be published once the applicant has viewed them, however states "as soon as practicable".

"Over a third of departments had some application listings missing from the disclosure logs, their internal records or both at the time of the audit data capture," the report read.

"While it is generally easy to find the departments' disclosure logs on their websites, not all disclosure logs are easy to read or use.

"This diminishes their value and means the departments do not fully realise the benefits of their disclosure logs as a tool for proactive disclosure.

"It can also affect the community's confidence in government agencies because they are not as transparent and open as they could be."

[ozbob]

Couriermail: Release the numbers: What have the Palaszczuk Government got to hide?

Evidence is emerging that the State Government is working furiously to circumvent its responsibility to release information at every turn and much of the manipulation is occurring under the watchful eye of the minders it employs at public expense, writes The Editor.

Every newly elected government starts out with a degree of commitment towards integrity and accountability. The Palaszczuk government was no exception after its inadvertent emergence amid the ashes of the Newman administration's self-immolation.

In fact, the circumstances of Annastacia Palaszczuk's rise to the premiership afforded her extensive opportunities for grandstanding on issues of propriety and she rarely missed an opportunity. However, the passage of time inevitably wears down these commitments as governments are confronted with the consequences of their own decisions and become increasingly intolerant of scrutiny.

Queensland's current second-term Labor government abandoned its principles of integrity and accountability at breakneck pace. Perhaps its accidental genesis in 2015 might explain why its grip on these beliefs was loosened so quickly. Unlike Wayne Goss when he finally seized power, Labor didn't have to serve long in the political purgatory of Opposition, so it never had to think long and hard about what kind of government it wanted to be.

Thanks to Mr Goss, all the mechanisms are in place for Queensland to have a proper "push and pull" model for the release of information that is in the public interest. Information should be "pushed" out because the Government is obliged under legislation to release it in numerous ways. Information can be "pulled" out by the media, individuals or organisations through Right to Information laws.

However, evidence is emerging that the government is working furiously to circumvent its responsibility to release information at every turn. Much of the manipulation is occurring under the watchful eye of the minders it employs at public expense.

On Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk refused to release an electorate breakdown of a new $220m school upgrade slush fund. The Premier couldn't even use the excuse that no such list existed because she'd told Parliament about the specific spend for certain electorates.

This comes just a week after Ms Palaszczuk's office was dragged kicking and screaming by Speaker Curtis Pitt to comply with Parliament rules and respond to an Opposition question about the number of public servants who had received the $1250 bonus for signing up to new wage agreements.

Compounding this issue was a damning indictment from Queensland's Information Commissioner who warned public confidence in government was being undermined because departments like to play hide and seek with information. Some departments were taking up to six months to release information under Right to Information laws, the commissioner found, while the disclosure logs that they're required to keep were too often difficult to read and use.

Many people won't be surprised to read that a government website is gobbledygook, but it is hard to believe when it comes to RTI that there isn't an element of purpose behind this. Ms Palaszczuk and her ministers like to talk about openness and accountability, but in practice they struggle. They have a less than enviable record when it comes to ethics and integrity.

It has kept unfit MPs in its party to maintain its grip on power, changed voting and donation laws to favour itself, had ministers caught breaching integrity rules with no real repercussions and now it has been caught out repeatedly thwarting its legislative responsibility to release information.

The only thing missing is the Premier telling us all "don't you worry about that".

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

13th August 2020

Re: Call for proper public scrutiny of the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority

Good Morning,

The OIC Audit report – Disclosure logs - Queensland Government departments
https://www.oic.qld.gov.au/about/news/audit-report-disclosure-logs-queensland-government-departments
is interesting reading.

We note the the Couriermail has slammed the Labor Government for ' major failures with RTI documents '
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/labor-slammed-for-major-failures-with-rti-documents/news-story/fd4c352f3950853f3f88e9177b86d54d

Today the Couriermail has again highlighted issues with the RTI obfuscation.
'Release the numbers: What have the Palaszczuk Government got to hide?' https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/release-the-numbers-what-have-the-palaszczuk-government-got-to-hide/news-story/ba0cfa709ee8568a1b2be462c8accd22

We certainly think that the CRRDA should be much more accountable and transparent publicly.  Please remove the RTI exemption for CRRDA.  What is there to hide? More rail failure??

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

Call for proper public scrutiny of the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority

31st July 2020

Good Morning,

RAIL Back On Track Members are concerned that the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (CRRDA) is not subject to the Right To Information Act 2009.

From  https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-013#sch.2

Reprint current from 18 November 2019 to date (accessed 28 July 2020 at 16:18)

Schedule 2

Entities to which this Act does not apply:

"the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority established under the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority Act 2016, section 8, in relation to its functions, except so far as they relate to community service obligations under that Act"

Further more the old Cross River Rail Delivery Authority Board was replaced with a board comprised of Senior Public Servants April 2020.
The current Cross River Rail Delivery Board was appointed on 14 April 2020.

Membership of the Board is:
Mr Damien Walker, Director-General, Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation (Chair)
Mr Dave Stewart, Director-General, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Ms Rachel Hunter, Under Treasurer, Queensland Treasury
Mr Neil Scales OBE, Director-General, Department of Transport and Main Roads
Ms Liza Carroll, Director-General, Department of Housing and Public Works
Dr Sarah Pearson, Deputy Director-General, Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation
Mr Matthew Longland, Deputy Director-General, Department of Transport and Main Roads

https://crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/about/our-people/

We have concerns that the Board is no longer independent in our opinion.

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet Roles and responsibilities ( https://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/publications/categories/policies-and-codes/handbooks/welcome-aboard/public-employee-roles/responsibilities.aspx ) states where public service employees are members of Government Boards this in part:

" When appointed to a Government Board in an official capacity, the public service employee should be aware of the government's policy imperatives and should not present a personal opinion or position that is contrary to either the Minister's directives or the government's policy agenda. "

We are therefore rightly concerned that activities of the CRRDA are not subject to proper public scrutiny.  We call on all political parties to consider amending legislation to remove CRRDA from Schedule 2 of the RTI legislation and make it subject to proper scrutiny.

Consideration should also be given to replace the board with members, that are in our opinion, seen to be independent of the Government of the day.

There has been a recent history of major problems with rail and rail related projects in SEQ, expensive to fix.

The last thing we need is another one.

Best wishes,

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

====

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1293575260193697792