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WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Hon. Bruce Atkinson, MLC
President of the Legislative Council, President's Office

25-6-2016

Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne 3002 Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9651 8675 Fax: +61 3 9651 8996
E-mail: bruce.atkinson@parliament.vic.gov.au

Cc:

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Mary Wooldridge mary.wooldridge@parliament.vic.gov.au

Daniel Andrews Premier Victoria daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
Mr Martin Pakula, martin.pakula@parliament.vic.gov.au, attorney-general@justice.vic.gov.au
Gavin Jennings gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au
Ref; 20160625-G. H. Schorel-Hlavka O.W.B. to Bruce Atkinson MLC
-Re alleged commercial documents-etc.doc

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Sir,

It is my view that there is no such thing as commercial-in-confidence where it relates to the

usage of public monies, as set out below also, And if it is indeed a project meant to serve the public
purpose, details of the agreement must be immediately made public. .
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http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20081015&filename=led&sec_id=3&sid=1
QUOTE
Travesty of public purpose

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State governments offer incredulous incentives to lure Tata

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IN THE last few days Maharashtra and West Bengal witnessed two diametrically opposite developments. In
Maharashtra, for the first time in the history of this country, affected farmers voted in a referendum on the
upcoming Reliance special economic zone (SEZ). Initial results suggest that the majority voted against the
SEZ. In Singur, Tatas plans kept slipping into a deeper imbroglio by the day. Several state governments
lined up to lure the company as Tata seriously considered moving outeach one trying to outdo each other in
terms of offering incentives and freebies. Soon as West Bengal made some parts of the secret deal between
the state and the company public, Tata Motors moved the High Court obtaining a restraining order.

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Tatas lawyers argued that basically the agreement between them and the state government was a trade secret.
This means that the Nano project is private commercial venture. Ironically the state government had acquired
land for the project invoking the public purpose law. The state government and company will have to come
clean about what exactly is the Nano project. If it is a commercial venture the company must directly need
deal with the farmers. And if it is indeed a project meant to serve the public purpose, details of the
agreement must be immediately made public.
What is clear from the deal between the West Bengal government and Tata motors is that state government
are trying to outdo each other to attract investments. This is a race right to the bottom. The moment Tata
Motors threatened to walk away from Singur, several state governments came forward. The lure of big-ticket
project is such that governments are willing to forgo taxes, forcibly acquire land, give subsidized water and
electricity, give capital subsidies and put thousands of security personnel to man the project. In all this,
industries are having free ride on public money. This is cheap industrialization. Where not only states are
giving fiscal subsidies, they are subsidizing the natural resourcesland, water, and energy. In a single
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economic entity that India is, competition between states, by the way of subsidizing industrialization, is
neither good for economy nor is it good for environment. And it surely is not for public purpose.
END QUOTE

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In particular also for elections (where an election is applicable) the stakeholders, being the
taxpayers, should be able to have all relevant details so they can make an informed decision in
regard of candidates.
Secrecy often may refer back to kickbacks and corruption and hence disclosure should be made
where it involved taxpayers monies.
This correspondence is not intended and neither must be perceived to state all issues/details.

Awaiting your response,

G. H. Schorel-Hlavka O.W.B. (Gerrit)

MAY JUSTICE ALWAYS PREVAIL

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(Our name is our motto!)

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25-6-2016
INSPECTOR-RIKATI about the BLACK HOLE in the CONSTITUTION-DVD
A 1st edition limited special numbered book on Data DVD ISBN 978-0-9803712-6-0
PLEASE NOTE: You may order books in the INSPECTOR-RIKATI series by making a reservation, by fax
0011-61-3-94577209 or E-mail admin@inspector-rikati.com Blog Http://www.scribd.com/InspectorRikati