A terrible decision by Treasury

Eric Crampton writes:

This week, the Treasury barred representatives from the Council of Trade Unions and the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union from attending its restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. 

Treasury said the briefings provide time to consider materials before public release. The aim is more accurate reporting and greater “transparency and accountability to the public.”  

Those not considered to have time-sensitive needs are no longer allowed to attend. Those include representatives of peak bodies, professional bodies, unions, universities, industry bodies, industry information services, and advocacy groups, among others.  

This is a really terrible decision. It is in fact an attempt to weaken the ability of organisations to be critical of the Government of the day. If an organisation can’t access the Treasury lock-up, then they can’t give an informed take on what is in the Treasury data until several hours after it is released. This means that for the first few hours the press releases from the government go unchallenged.

Ironically I can still attend as I am media, but it means Business NZ, the CTU etc can not.

But ‘lock-ups’ do not just provide early access to soon-to-be-released budget and fiscal documents.  

Attendees can also ask Treasury officials detailed questions about complex estimates. This encourages better-informed reports with fewer errors, and with fewer excuses for errors.  

Yes, also very important.

We can sympathise with Treasury’s predicament. When more people wish to attend restricted briefings than can be accommodated, Treasury must choose who to disappoint.  

This decision is not due to lack of capacity. A tiny number normally attend the HYEFU for example.

If the Government doesn’t instruct Treasury to withdraw this draconian policy, I have a partial solution.

Kiwiblog is a member of the Media Council, and has been accredited to attend Budget lockups since the mid 2000s. If the CTU and other groups are unable to attend, I am happy for one of their staff to attend as an author for Kiwiblog. In return they must promise to write a detailed article for Kiwiblog giving their analysis of the budget.