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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick
@mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
7K followers 18 following 1.3K posts
Transparency Warrior, small business owner, former Independent Senator for SA and former submariner.
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 1h
As the Defence Minister and Defence Industry Minister jet about the US splashing cash on subs that won’t turn up anytime soon (if at all), fundamental and pressing national security issues are just not being addressed. #AUKUS #DefenceFail #auspol 👉 www.afr.com/policy/forei...
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
ICYMI #auspol
FOI amendment bill. A transparency counter-revolution. - Michael West
The biggest ever assault on government transparency has been launched by Labor's tabling of the FOI Amendment Bill 2025.
michaelwest.com.au
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
It’s great to see the cross bench coming out early and with strength opposing the Govt’s evil #FOI Amendment Bill. Here’s @helenhainesindi.bsky.social’s amendment killing off the ability of the Govt to charge FOI applications fees and for officials to summarily dismiss FOI requests. #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
ICYMI #auspol
FOI amendment bill. A transparency counter-revolution. - Michael West
The biggest ever assault on government transparency has been launched by Labor's tabling of the FOI Amendment Bill 2025.
michaelwest.com.au
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
ICYMI #auspol
No controversy, please. We are the Aussie Government! - Michael West
The Government's proposed changes to FOI laws will deny access to any document of the government that involves controversy.
michaelwest.com.au
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
It’s great to see the cross bench coming out early and with strength opposing the Govt’s evil #FOI Amendment Bill. Here’s Senator @jacquilambie.bsky.social’s amendment killing off changes to restrict public access to controversial matters being considered by the Govt. #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
ICYMI #auspol
Albo's dangerous expansion of Cabinet secrecy - Michael West
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s proposed modifications of Freedom of Information laws are a huge secrecy grab and undermine democracy
michaelwest.com.au
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
It’s great to see the cross bench coming out early and with strength opposing the Govt’s evil #FOI Amendment Bill. Here’s Senator @jacquilambie.bsky.social’s amendment killing off changes to restrict public access to any important matters being considered by the Govt. #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
But it’s clear who’s paying. Another (non-refundable) $1,000,000,000 of your money about to be shunted to the US to build THEIR industry capability 🤦‍♂️. 2/2 #AUKUS #USUKA #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 10h
In case you were curious as to who has sovereign control over #AUKUS, this overnight (Washington) response from Minister Pat Conroy says it all. 1/2 #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 1d
Information is to democratic participation as water is to life. People take water for granted, until it no longer flows. Good on the Greens, cross bench and Coalition for protecting us from @albomp.bsky.social’s shameless assault on govt transparency. 👏 👏 👏 #auspol
Sussan Ley praised for ‘standing up for democracy’ as Labor’s freedom of information crackdown looks set to fail
Government’s FoI changes unlikely to pass Senate as Coalition, Greens and key crossbenchers voice outrage
www.theguardian.com
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 1d
@albomp.bsky.social is sending billions to US & UK shipyards for #AUKUS and then can’t find money to support the core science necessary for future industry innovation, protection of the environment and improved quality of life. He’s short-changing our future. #auspol
Albanese urged to ‘secure the future of science’ as CSIRO reckons with ongoing decline in funding
CEO Doug Hilton says the agency’s budget allocation ‘has not kept up with the cost of doing science’
www.theguardian.com
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 2d
Sorry Sussan Ley, it looks like I missed your opinion piece as we passed. Thank you for standing up for democracy. #FOI #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 2d
In 1982 Malcolm Fraser guided a new #FOI Bill through the parliament, laws later described by High Court Justice Kirby as “nothing short of revolutionary”. So Sussan Ley, why the delay in rejecting @albomp.bsky.social’s self-interested counter-revolution Bill? #auspol
Albanese government risks failure to live up to its own pledges of increased transparency | Tom McIlroy
Introduced without consultation, the attorney general’s planned overhaul of freedom of information is part of a worrying drift away from truth and transparency in government
www.theguardian.com
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 2d
In Dec 2019 @albomp.bsky.social told the Chifley Research Centre Conference audience “We don’t need a culture of secrecy. We need a culture of disclosure” and then committed to “Reform #FOI laws so they can’t be flouted by Government”.

Exactly who’s failed? #auspol
PM Anthony Albanese defames former senator Rex Patrick to deflect scrutiny on new FOI laws
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used parliamentary privilege to defame former senator Rex Patrick, when there was no justification to do so. So, let’s see why. Below are 4 short videos from federal […...
kangaroocourtofaustralia.com
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 3d
I’ve tried to get some details on our critical mineral strategy, but it turns out information about our rocks are matters of national security 🤷‍♂️. I have appealed this #FOI refusal. We have the right to know. 2/2 #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 3d
Oh no, here we go again. Are we heading for another (rushed) agreement to solidify our role as the world’s quarry?

We should export processed minerals, not raw! #ValueAddHere. 1/2 #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 3d
The Govt has spent $600K on lawyers to keep early warnings signals of further Snowy 2.0 cost blowouts from the public. With the matter now in the Full Federal Court, the price of this secrecy to the taxpayer will likely avalanche to >$1M 🤦‍♂️. #FOI #auspol
Snowy 2.0 legal cost avalanche - more public money spent hushing more public information - Michael West
The Government confessed to the Senate it spent $600K on lawyers to stop Snowy 2.0 cost and schedule blowouts from being made public.
michaelwest.com.au
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 4d
The jury is in. @albomp.bsky.social hates transparency. Loathes it! #FOI #auspol
Inside Albanese’s FOI reforms: ‘He hates transparency’
Labor’s reforms to freedom of information laws are opposed by every public submission made to the Senate, with the government’s record on secrecy worse than Scott Morrison’s.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 5d
Cabinet solidarity is with the gas cartel.
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 5d
Yesterday, in reply to a question about #FOI, @albomp.bsky.social went out of his way to take a swipe at me. His words were unbecoming of a PM, but I’m glad my #transparency efforts are getting under his skin. It shows our anti-secrecy campaign is having an impact. #auspol
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 5d
Pity he didn’t have the guts to say this when he was Industry Minister. #auspol
Australia must ‘have the guts’ to stand up to Japanese companies reselling gas for profit, Husic says
Labor backbencher is calling for drastic intervention to secure supplies for the east coast
www.theguardian.com
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 5d
The Govt has developed preliminary costs for the storage & disposal of #AUKUS high level nuclear waste. You’re not allowed to see what it is and the Senate is not being told either. The only thing we do know is that you’ll be paying for it. #FOI #auspol
AUKUS nuclear waste costs? Government: we know but we're not saying - Michael West
The Government has calculated preliminary costs for the treatment and storage of high-level radioactive waste from AUKUS submarines.
michaelwest.com.au
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Reposted by Rex Patrick
jacquilambie.bsky.social
Jacqui Lambie @jacquilambie.bsky.social · 7d
They promised transparency.
They delivered secrecy.
Now they’re coming for your right to know.
Fight for our Freedom to Know.
Because it’s our money and our right to see where it goes. Find out more - lambienetwork.com.au/pages/foi
#FreedomToKnow #Transparency #AusPol #JacquiLambie #FOI
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mrrexpatrick.bsky.social
Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 6d
@albomp.bsky.social says #FOI costs the Govt too much. When I FOI’ed Treasury in 2023 for briefs it had provided Jim Chalmers on stage 3 tax cuts, the Govt spent $53K resisting public disclosure. They lost! The taxpayers lost! FOI is not costing too much - Govt secrecy is. #auspol
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