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Premier defends ministers' choice of verbal briefings

by Michael Connors
August 18, 2009
The opposition parties say the government is trying to circumvent Access to Information requests by not putting anything in writing. That's after Health Minister Paul Oram admitted he is only getting verbal briefings from his officials. But Premier Danny Williams is jumping to the defence of his minister, saying he also prefers aural briefings. Oram was the second minister to admit doing it. He says he asked for verbal briefings only as he settles into his new job as health minister. That means no briefing notes on paper, and that means his briefings cannot be obtained by Access to Information requests. Joan Burke is doing the same thing in her new job as minister of child youth and family services. The opposition says the government is clearly trying to sidestep Access to Information laws. But Premier Williams says he agrees with the way his ministers are doing business. And he flat out denies that there is any co-ordinated effort throughout cabinet to circumvent the law. The opposition parties are also concerned about how the government is conducting business. They say there is no way ministers can remember everything if it’s not written down. The Cameron Inquiry has already demonstrated what can happen when there isn’t a proper flow of information. But the premier maintains that the government can operate just as smoothly with verbal briefings.

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