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Manly Council: The Fort Knox of Public Information?

What is Manly Council trying to hide? This is the question being asked by Candy Bingham, Mayoral Candidate and President of the Good For Manly Association that is querying why more and more public information is no longer accessible.

“The public can no longer view any basic information on the Council’s website, such as development applications, despite a ruling by the Office of Information Commissioner some eight weeks ago that their removal by the Council was “a breach of the Act”.

“While other councils, such as neighbour Warringah, actively promoted their draft budgets and invited locals to download them and give feedback, Manly Council’s Draft Budget (or estimates) are simply not available in a readable form.” Mrs Bingham added.

Want to view the Manly Draft Strategic Plan? It’s a 253 page document that is impossible to read online and is not downloadable. But you can view it at the Council Chambers during office hours or pay $2 a page to have it copied for you, once you fill out a detailed form.

"The hoops ratepayers are now expected to go through, to access information which should be readily available on the Council’s website, is beyond a joke” Candy Bingham says.

According to Mrs Bingham a member of the public recently went through the following scenario to request a copy of the Draft Estimates for 2012/13:

He phoned Manly Council to obtain a copy and was told emphatically, no.

He then rang the office of the Minister for Local Government and the Office of the Information Commissioner and was advised by both that he was entitled to get the information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA).

A request for a copy of the Budget at the front desk of Manly Council was again met with a no. When he advised that he had spoken to various authorities the staff member went to check with the Responsible Accounting Officer, Jenny Nascimento.

He was then advised that even if he filled in the GIPA formal application to access information (Form CS 3) that he would not be given the draft budget nor even a line out of the draft Budget.

“So what is Manly Council hiding and why has it become like Fort Knox when you are trying to access information which you are entitled to have?” Mrs Bingham wants to know.


Authorised & issued by Candy Bingham

Mayoral Candidate and President

Good For Manly Association

www.goodformanly.com.au

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