The Transparency Crisis: Shining Light on Government Secrecy

It is a familiar story but no less concerning: government withholding information at the very moment that transparency is needed most. In recent debates within the Legislative Council, the curtain was pulled back on a disturbing pattern of secrecy and obfuscation that threatens not only public trust but the health and wellbeing of our community.

When transparency waits on hold

Imagine being a citizen who elected officials to represent your interests, only to be met with silence when you seek answers on vital services affecting your children’s health. That is precisely what has unfolded around the Child and Adolescent Health Service Gender Diversity Service Model of Care. After relentless requests, delays stretching for months and repeated refusals, the government finally released a watered-down two-page summary rather than the full standards of care. It was a report pending for half a year, hidden behind claims of being an “internal document”, even though similar jurisdictions freely share such information.

As a medical doctor, I find this approach not just frustrating but dangerous. Healthcare demands evidence, clarity and public trust. How can we ensure the best care for our young people when clinical standards remain shrouded in secrecy? The information finally provided revealed scant references and outdated research, failing to meet the rigorous scrutiny children’s health deserves. The potential risks of off-label use of puberty blockers and hormones highlight the urgent need for transparent, evidence-based guidance.

Meanwhile, delays and evasions are not limited to this issue. Repeated refusals to provide data on youth mental health, public housing waitlists and major infrastructure projects are eroding the public’s confidence in governance. The Auditor General herself has raised alarm bells about the government's ongoing resistance to scrutiny, likening withheld information to a “black box” of opaque decision-making. Without sunlight, trust withers.

If we cannot see the workings behind decisions — whether health policies or billion-dollar infrastructure plans — how can we hold our representatives accountable? How do we protect vulnerable children or safeguard public funds? The evidence is clear and plentiful: government secrecy is corroding the foundation of democracy.

The unexpected answer from the heart of government

In a spirited defence, the government reminded the House that some documents require careful handling to protect vulnerable groups, cautioning against politicising clinical care. This is a valid concern — care must be compassionate and thoughtful. Yet, this should never degenerate into withholding basic operational standards from elected representatives charged with oversight.

Clinical services are adapting worldwide based on emerging evidence, with multidisciplinary teams and safeguards designed to protect young patients. We all want to support those children and families who are navigating complex gender identity challenges. But hiding information or providing incomplete reports is not the way forward.

The government’s assertion of a strong commitment to transparency rings hollow when contrasted with ongoing questions left unanswered or met with vague, delayed replies. Genuine transparency means timely, complete access to information — not struggling through months of requests or motions compelled to force release.

Leaders must also resist using confidentiality as a default shield when faced with tough questions. Constituents deserve honesty and clarity about the health services and policies shaping their lives.

A shared duty to reclaim trust

Across party lines, concerns about the government’s approach to transparency resonated deeply at this recent session. This is not about ideology or partisan bickering; it is about democracy itself. The refusal to provide requested documents is a symptom of a much larger problem—an erosion of trust between government, parliamentarians, and the community.

As a doctor turned politician, I liken this to ignoring symptoms at the first sign of illness. Without early diagnosis and intervention, the condition worsens. Similarly, neglecting transparency risks political malignancy—where public faith decays and democratic accountability fails.

We must insist on better. We owe it to the children receiving care, to the patients waiting in emergency rooms facing daunting ambulance ramping, and to every Western Australian whose voice deserves respect in the halls of government. Our political hospitals must not only treat symptoms but root out the cancer of secrecy.

If you want to follow my ongoing efforts to promote evidence, healthcare integrity and accountability in government, please consider subscribing to my updates on my YouTube channel. Together, we can shine light where darkness gathers.

To read the full discussion and debate in the Legislative Council, you can visit the official Hansard transcript here. If you support our shared commitment to transparency and want to help build a better future for Western Australia, please consider joining Legalise Cannabis WA. Democracy thrives when more voices stand for openness and integrity.