Media Release – Estimates: Whatever you do – don’t put it in writing

WHATEVER YOU DO – DON’T PUT IT IN WRITING

Following the embarrassing leak earlier this year of key cabinet documents relating to the government’s FuelWatch scheme, it has been confirmed at Senate Estimates today that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet took an internal decision to cease providing written coordination comments to cabinet submissions.

Departmental officials confirmed today that the decision to do so was taken on the 28th of May and that it is still in effect today, nearly five months later.

“The paranoia and control-freakery of Kevin Rudd has meant that the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has been providing only verbal comments on the cabinet submissions of other departments.

“Far from the “evidence based policy making” and “frank and fearless” approach Mr Rudd said he would seek, the Prime Minister’s own department is not prepared to put its views in writing for fear of them being leaked.

“Rather than focussing on providing the best advice to government, Mr Rudd’s department is more concerned about how their advice might look if it were to find its way into the media.

“Mr Rudd is ensuring that the provision of good public service advice takes a back seat to preventing further embarrassments for his government.

“Today’s revelations prove that Mr Rudd’s pronouncements on the style of advice he would seek from the public service were about conveying a positive image of himself for the media and the public.

“Instead he has acted so that the provision of advice from his own department is nobbled.”