Premier’s diary revealed after prolonged FOI battle
Self-proclaimed transparency warrior Rex Patrick has finally got his hands on a complete version of the premier’s diary after a prolonged FOI battle. Seasoned political commentator Clement Macintyre wonders why there was such a fuss about releasing it.
Jacqui Lambie Network Senate candidate Rex Patrick has won his year-and-a-half-long battle to gain access to an unredacted version of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas’s diary.
Patrick launched a Freedom of Information (FOI) bid on 19 October 2023, requesting to view the premier’s diary from the dates of July 10 to October 19 2023 – the longest period permitted under the FOI Act.
Patrick initially received a summary of the diary’s contents, but has now been given full access after a decision by South Australia’s Ombudsman, Emily Strickland.
Patrick told InDaily that the outcome would allow South Australians to see who influences the premier.
“I was disappointed at the time it took to get access to the diary, but I think the Ombudsman’s ruling will make sure the delay is a one-off. Delay is the enemy of FOI,” he said.
“I think the Premier suffered a dose of hubris when my request landed in his in-tray – after all, he’s the Premier.
“He seemed to lose sight of the fact that he works for us, and is paid by us.”
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Patrick said South Australia should follow other states and territories such as Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, which require ministers to proactively disclose some form of their diaries.
“Whilst the law is settled in other states, there was no precedent in South Australia – until now. So, thank you, Mr Malinauskas,” he said.
Patrick said much of what he found in the diary was to be expected, but that he was interested to see how closely the premier tracks the location of the governor, as well as his “cosy relationship” with The Advertiser editor at large, Paul Starick.
Over the 101 days, Malinauskas had three hour-long in-person interviews with Starick, as well as a 15-minute phone interview on August 9.
“It was good to see the ebb and flow of different topics as they arose,” said Patrick.
A screenshot of the first diary summary sent to Patrick after his FOI request. Photo: Supplied
Speaking to InDaily, political commentator and University of Adelaide emeritus professor Clement Macintyre said that what struck him most about the premier’s diary is how “extraordinarily busy” he is, adding that “there’s never a dull moment”.
“I don’t know that there’s a lot in there that will get us excited other than evidence that we’ve got a government that is busy and hardworking, but I have no doubt that if you look at Steven Marshall’s diary from the four years he was in office, it would be just as crowded and just as busy,” he said.
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Mcintyre said the diary was a predictable mix of political commitments such as sitting in parliament, meeting with ministers and backbenchers, meeting with special interest groups and representing South Australia interstate and internationally.
“I don’t think there’s anything that I saw which struck me as, ‘Well, I wasn’t expecting that’, which leads me to question why the government was so reticent about releasing the diary, and I’m scratching my head thinking why are they bothering,” he said.
When asked if South Australia should follow in the footsteps of other states, which require ministers and premiers to release their diaries, Mcintyre said Patrick’s FOI should show the government that “there’s nothing to fear from that increased level of transparency”.
“As a general principle, transparency in government is a very good idea – the more the public is aware of the focus and interests of the government and the activities of the premier, the better. The government is, after all, a servant of the people,” he said.
However, Mcintyre said it’s not unreasonable for the government to keep conversations of a sensitive political nature private.
“We don’t expect, for example, the premier to come out of a caucus meeting and tell us all of the fine-grain detail of the arguments that have been held within the party,” he said.
“So, a degree of confidentiality is not at all unreasonable, but the routine run-of-the-mill, which lobby groups, which businesses, which regions in South Australia the premier is visiting, the detail of the trips, the outreach stuff, the trips to schools, the speeches that are being made, the sorts of people who have got their hand up wanting to have some of the premier’s time, I suppose, that’s all quite reasonable…
“I can’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be more transparent and open on the basis of what we’ve seen here; there’s nothing that the government should be concerned about keeping under wraps.”
A screenshot of the full diary sent to Patrick after his successful appeal to the Ombudsman. Clause 6(1) of the FOI Act exempts a document “if it contains matter the disclosure of which would involve the unreasonable disclosure of information concerning the personal affairs of any person (living or dead)”. Photo: Supplied
A government spokesperson said there was no reluctance to release the diary and that the original version released to Patrick is similar to what ministers in other states are required to disclose.
“The State Labor Government has been more open and transparent than any previous government. We proactively disclose a range of information relating to the activities of Ministers and Chief Executives on a monthly basis, including expenditure on mobile phones, credit cards and other information,” the spokesperson said.
“We also supported legislation in the Parliament to proactively provide even greater transparency regarding interstate and international travel.
“Other information is obtainable through Freedom of Information, which is processed in accordance with the Act.”
