CABINET CONFIDENTIALITY
851. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the WA Inc royal
commission recommendation that a list of cabinet decisions be officially
published and that none of those decisions be exempt from publication due to
secrecy provisions.
(1) Does the WA Labor government
intend to progress this recommendation?
(2) If yes to (1), what action has
the government taken or will the government take?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) Under
a longstanding convention, it is understood that cabinet documents are
considered confidential to the government that created them. This
confidentiality is an essential part of the Westminster system of government and ensures collective ministerial
responsibility. It makes it extraordinarily difficult for cabinet
ministers to speak without fear or favour if they know that what they say will
be revealed publicly. The convention of cabinet confidentiality has been
accepted by all previous governments, noting that cabinet decisions have no
legal standing until they are put into effect either by a decision of the
Executive Council or by the responsible minister through their departments.