Nationals Senator Ross Cadell is now fully disclosing who he meets with in his capacity as a shadow minister, with the move highlighting the lack of a transparent federal diary system, a system that is commonplace at state level.
The shadow minister for water, fisheries and forestry, and emergency management tells Crikey he has used his new statement to the register of senators’ interests for the 48th parliament to disclose who he’s met with since being appointed to the portfolios in May.
The NSW senator and former NSW director of the Nationals told Crikey he will publish his diaries two weeks after the end of each month and committed to continue the practice if he becomes a minister in a future Coalition government. His meetings with constituents are not included in the disclosures.
Cadell wouldn’t be drawn on whether the Albanese government, or indeed his opposition colleagues, should follow his lead, telling Crikey: “It’s just the way I want to do things. As a personal choice, I believe protection from false claims is best achieved through transparency.”
Related Article Block Placeholder
Article ID: 1215019
Transparency seems to be a thing for Cadell. Since being elected to the Senate in 2022 he has declared and described every gift or hospitality he’s received, even where they fell under the $300 disclosure threshold. Like this one from the last parliament of an $8 box of “Walkers Christmas Spiced delicious buttery shortbread with warming hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a dusting of demerara sugar.”
Feds lag the states
Most state governments publish ministerial diaries as a matter of course: the Queensland government does so every month (including for shadow ministers), while NSW, Victoria and the ACT publish every quarter; Tasmania only twice a year.
By contrast, the only way the public can find out who Albanese government ministers are meeting with is via a freedom of information (FOI) request, with Crikey’s Diary Dump providing a window into how corporations and other vested interests seek to influence decision-makers behind closed doors.
Even when ministerial diaries can be accessed using FOI, they’re often heavily redacted, sometimes in arbitrary ways. For example, a calendar entry called “Michelle Rowland”, taking place at the lawfirm where the now attorney-general used to work, showed up last year in Bill Shorten’s diary. But the same meeting was curiously redacted by Rowland’s office.
Senator David Pocock and MP Monique Ryan, both independents, have both argued ministers should be required to publish their diary each month. Crikey sought comment from the offices of the prime minister and the opposition leader about whether they would support a ministerial diary disclosure system, but did not receive a response.
Should federal ministers be forced to publish their diaries?
We want to hear from you. Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au to be published in Crikey. Please include your full name. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
