Source : the age
The way questions of the Queensland government are processed is changing, with Premier David Crisafulli taking control of a key transparency process.
Under the new directive, every Queensland government department – as well as police, fire and ambulance services – has been ordered to compile a list of daily media inquiries from journalists for the premier’s department.
A summary of the inquiry, the reporter’s name and deadline must be provided for a “Queensland Daily Media Wrap” spreadsheet.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli was a journalist before becoming a politician.Credit: William Davis
The premier’s office said it would not vet media responses before they were sent to journalists, although the move would ensure “consistent messaging”.
Before his career in politics, Crisafulli was a journalist in north Queensland.
The Queensland Police Service confirmed it had received the request.
“In an ever-changing media landscape, it is critical processes for information flows across government are improved and modernised,” a spokesperson for the government said in a statement.
“The delivery of transparent and timely information to Queenslanders in a fast-paced media environment is critical to good government and the Queensland government is taking active steps to ensure that occurs.”
In Victoria, former Labor premier Daniel Andrews made a similar move.
Andrews’ style of leadership over all areas of government was exposed last year in documents that showed his private office intercepted routine media inquiries to health agencies.
The bid to hold tight control of the flow of public information was revealed in more than 150 pages of Victorian Health Department memos.
The papers revealed the extensive involvement of the Premier’s Private Office – nicknamed the PPO – in overseeing responses to journalists’ questions, including inquiries that had been posed to hospitals, the health minister and “independent” bodies.
Too controlling? Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews was dogged by accusations he centralised power in his office.Credit: Joe Armao
Examples included an inquiry to hospitals asking if WorkSafe premium increases could impact their services, as well as a request for data on gender transitioning.
Integrity experts who examined the documents said the number and frequency of health-related media inquiries involving the PPO was evidence of centralisation of government power.
Speaking about Andrews last year, Monash University associate professor Yee-Fui Ng said the “presidentialisation” of politics was increasing across Western democracies. This meant power, including media management, was being concentrated in the office of the leader.
with Aisha Dow
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