Liberals accuse Labor of secrecy for withholding PM’s letters to ministers – despite Coalition doing the same

Opposition senator's FoI request rejected by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security and cabinet solidarity grounds

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The Liberals have accused the Albanese government of a culture of secrecy after it refused to disclose the prime minister's letters to his ministers laying out their responsibilities - despite the former Coalition government also failing to disclose the letters.

The freedom of information request, made by Liberal senator Maria Kovacic, was rejected by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, which cited national security and cabinet solidarity concerns. The rejection was not without precedence - the former Morrison government also rejected a freedom of information request by Guardian Australia for the letters in 2021.