Vic: Overland to bare police deals on protester info

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2009
Vic: Overland to bare police deals on protester info

By Steve Lillebuen

MELBOURNE, Dec 11 AAP - Victoria's top cop says he will fast-track the release of details
about agreements police have with building companies to pass on sensitive information
about protesters.

Victoria Police has signed memorandums of understanding with the managers of several
projects, including the AquaSure private consortium that is building the state's $3.5
billion desalination plant.

The AquaSure agreement allows police to pass on information about protesters to help
the consortium's staff "manage" security threats and keep the project on schedule.

It also includes a "law data security" clause which blocks the public from knowing
the full extent of the information being passed on by police, state opposition police
spokesman Peter Ryan said on Friday.

"The government is involved in a cover-up here and Victorians quite rightly will be
very worried about it," Mr Ryan told reporters.

But police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said he's been told he can't legally release
details and a full list of all the companies with similar police deals unless there is
a freedom of information (FOI) request.

Mr Overland stressed he would personally get involved, however, to expedite the release
of the information through FOI.

"I will. Absolutely," he told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

"I will do everything I can to make sure any FOI request is dealt with promptly and
that the information is made available."

But he would not commit to a date because third parties would have to be consulted.

"I'm not trying to fudge it but I don't want to be tied down to a date and we need
to make sure we do this in accordance with the law," he said.

While the force is being questioned by Victoria's privacy watchdog and the Office of
Police Integrity over the memorandum agreements, Mr Overland said the public can be assured
no private information has been released under the deal.

Those critical of the agreements have "misread" what the deals actually mean, he said.

"It's a beat-up. We have not been inappropriately providing private information. We
will not inappropriately provide private information."

But the chief commissioner said such agreements could mean police would tip off a company
that a protest was imminent.

If a prosecution was forthcoming, police could also pass on information to the Department
of Sustainability and the Environment if it was within their jurisdiction.

Police memorandums also cover hospitals and some government-backed projects, he said.

In a statement, Mr Overland said police had a "strong relationship" with protest groups
opposing the desal plant near Wonthaggi, but "community safety and the protection of property
at the site has been and will remain our number one priority".

AAP sbl/pmu/mmr/mn

KEYWORD: FILES

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.