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Representatives of municipalities and cities in particular have successfully overcome the administrative burden associated with citizens’ right to inspect files, which has been widely implemented throughout Europe. Too few staff and there is a risk of collapse, according to the warning. The People’s Party in particular, with its many mayors, was therefore on the brakes. A new draft has been circulating since June, which states: “Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants are not obliged to publish. You may disclose such information subject to these Terms.”
“Must apply to all communities”
This would mean that in 2006, out of the 2,093 municipalities in Austria (including cities), they would be exempt from the obligation to make all relevant information accessible to the public. This means that the Freedom of Information Act would not apply to the 4.7 million residents of the small and smallest municipalities. A compromise that critics are forming against: The obligation to publish – from orders to reports – must apply to all communities, says Mathias Huter from the Freedom of Information Forum on ORF radio. Huter doesn’t think much of the population limit: “Significant parts of the population would be able to control decision-makers at the local level more poorly than would be possible in larger cities, and would have less access to information.” This would mean that Austria would remain at the bottom when it comes to transparency. Heinz Mayer, a constitutional lawyer and supporter of the anti-corruption referendum, also sees the draft as an eyewash. “This is a sign that they don’t actually want to abolish secrecy. This is the sacred cow, and you want to look after it because you’ve obviously made very good use of it. For me it’s actually a rearguard action,” says Mayer, also on Ö1.
The office of Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (VP) did not want to comment on the working draft and the border. Instead, it was emphasized once again that the abolition of official secrecy was a “true paradigm shift” – and further: “And as the Constitutional Minister and the Vice Chancellor have explained, we are in the final stages of developing a new draft.” The Greens held stated in a written statement that states and municipalities would try “in a last ditch effort” to prevent the abolition of official secrecy. Contrary to current reporting, the draft of course stipulates that official secrecy will be abolished for all municipalities, states and the federal government. The negotiations are in the final phase and the final negotiated draft is due to be sent to Parliament in the next few weeks.
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Source: Nachrichten
