And while we know how much Hugo Patt will be getting from winning his case against the Commission, we also know how much Barrow and Williams collected from the government for its clients during the Barrow years. That's because there was disclosure in a "Freedom of Information '' response - and then, voila(!), the SMART Stream documents showing those payments were leaked.
But the only reason they had to be leaked is because, normally, SMART Stream payments - which is how the government disburses all payments - is an internal government system - jealously guarded by mandarins of the public service.
So we asked the PM, when will the Smartstream documents of payments for Courtenay Coye LLP - along with other disbursements of public interest be made public? He said, that's never gonna happen.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I have never leaked any such thing from SMART Stream, I don't even have access to SMART Stream, I have explained it many times and I will explain it once again that the SMARt Stream system is not made for public consumption that it is dealing with the private affairs for different persons within government and individuals and it is not something that is made available to the public but Channel 7 has always had access to the SMART Stream, even getting information that I don't have. During the UDP time, you used didn't use to get leaks but now you do get leaks because obviously there are still members of the previous government that are there that still want to find ways to embarrass our government."
Courtney Menzies:
"But shouldn't the information..."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It will not happen. Let's not argue, it will not happen. Let's not argue."
We note that the former leader of the opposition, Patrick Faber had committed to a limited opening of SMART STREAM for public scrutiny were he to be elected.
